Perseverance must finish its work. – James 1:4
The Epistle of James is a book in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. James is generally thought to be the brother of Jesus Christ, though some who hold that Mary was always a virgin believe James to be a cousin or step-brother of Jesus. He is also referred to as James the Just and is believed to be the same person as James the Lesser, though it is generally accepted he is not James the son of Zebedee.
What is not generally accepted, however is exactly who wrote the Epistle of James. Those who know more about biblical history than we do are not entirely sure themselves.
This verse reads differently in other versions of the Bible. The above translation is from the New International Version, but other versions talk about perfect work and endurance, leaving out perseverance. Regardless of the version and whether you believe the Bible is the sacred word of God or the planet’s biggest selling novel, we believe any objective analysis shows this passage is one of the many nuggets in the Bible that deserve the attention of any thinking person.
James appears to be writing to Jewish Christians who were forced to disperse because of persecution. He is imploring his readers to show patience and perseverance in these troubled times – have their ever been any other? – to live the life that Christ wants them to live.
Today’s Thought is good advice for us. We must finish the work we were put on this planet to do.
First, however, before we can finish it we must begin it. Getting started is sometimes the toughest part. It takes knowledge of ourselves to know what we are supposed to do with our lives and it takes courage – perhaps the most courage of the entire endeavor – to go and get started. It takes diligence to keep at it every day. It takes all these to get to the final steps and it takes perseverance to finish the job.
Perseverance must finish its work…
Anyone can quit. The difference between success and failure generally rests in the amount of effort someone is willing to put into something. Are you willing to pursue the life you were meant to live with diligence and courage? If you are a life well-lived – life’s great prize – awaits.
Perseverance and time are two elements that give those who utilize them an enormous advantage. Each of us is issued 24 hours every day. No one gets any more and no one gets any less. Perseverance and patience are there for us to put to good use.
We must provide the perseverance and we must let it finish its work. Nothing is going to come to us, we must go out and get it.
The Thought for the Day runs regularly. Quotes are from Gaylon’s private stock.
