January 21, 2008
Let’s be honest. Sometimes, you come across a passage of Scripture that leaves you scratching your head. And, that’s okay! When you come across a passage that is hard to understand, don’t get discouraged, give up, and close your Bible in frustration (although it sounds tempting sometimes!). Let that fuel your passion and desire to get into the Word, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the understanding you need. Remember, God inspired the hard-to-understand passages just as much as He inspired the easy-to-understand passages. And, God does not waste ink or paper! It is put in the Bible for a divine purpose. So, let’s dig into today’s passage and see what God has to teach us!
As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: humble, rich, and glory.
Passage for the day: James 1:9-11 (NASB)
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.
Why is the poor man (brother of humble circumstances) able to boast?
Who do you think placed the poor man in a high position?
What is it that humbles the rich man?
What is the end result of the rich man’s wealth and achievements?
Chew on this:
Why are we talking about rich and poor in the midst of a passage about trials and temptations? If you have ever gone through a difficult financial situation, then you understand why this fits perfectly in a passage about trials! What James is attempting to do is show us the big picture from God’s perspective on the poor and the rich.
The first person seen here is the poor or lowly man. This man feels seemingly insignificant and is possibly even perceived as a man incapable of influence. God tells this man that he can rejoice because Christ will lift him up to a position of honor. James is encouraging these men to boast or to “take pride” in their coming exaltation. Although these poor men and women had nothing visible to boast in, their boasting was greater than those who boasted in themselves. Their poverty, then, had turned into a double benefit, for it encouraged the humility and faith God requires. In 1 Peter 5:6-7, we read “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” As the poor man walks in humility by faith, God will exalt him and take care of him with His mighty hand!
The other person who is mentioned is the rich man. It is interesting to point out that the rich man is to boast in his “humiliation.” What does this mean? Well, I want to make it clear that God is not saying that if you are rich, then God is going to make a fool out of you or take you down. Instead, the rich man is encouraged to see the big picture, just like the poor man. Knowing that his riches will not last forever, the rich man should boast in his future position of humility and lowliness. Instead of basking in the artificial light of the borrowed time his wealth has brought him, the rich man should humble himself in order to guard against the temptation of trusting in wealth as opposed to God. James reminds us that the riches of this world are like wildflowers that are being scorched by the hot sun. It is beautiful for a time, but will soon die and fade away.
In regards to the church, God places the poor and the rich on the same level when they stand before Him. Neither one is to glory over the other, since all we have is from God anyway. It is not wrong or better to be rich or poor. The poor and the rich are encouraged to see life from God’s point of view. The poor can be encouraged, knowing that God will honor them as they walk by faith and trust God for their needs. The rich are encouraged to carry their wealth and position under an umbrella of humility, remembering to place their confidence in God, and not in their riches.
Let’s be sure to live our lives for eternity, putting our trust in God alone!
If you want to go little deeper on this, see these verses for more study on God’s perspective of the poor, the rich, and where we should place our confidence: 1 Sam. 2:7; 1 Chron. 29:12; Prov. 8:17-18; Prov. 28:6; Jer. 9:23-24; Matt. 6:19-34; Luke 1:52-53; 2 Cor. 6:10; 2 Cor. 8:9; 1 Tim. 6:9,17
For His Name,
Pastor Stephen
