James 1:9-11

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.  For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

The trials that the original readers of this epistle were facing certainly brought about many changes in financial fortunes.  Certainly, the majority if not all of these changes were in the form of loss.  The poor became even poorer and those who previously had abundant resources saw them fading away.  For most of humanity this would be cause for lament.  James admonishes his brothers to boast in this reality because it liberates them from the foolishness and double mindedness of pursuing riches in this life.

THE DELIGHT OF HUMBLE MEANS: Poverty is not in and of itself a virtue nor is it a judgment from God. However, a believer who lives in poverty can boast or rejoice with gratitude over the coming exaltation when Christ returns and establishes His kingdom and then dwells with us on the New Earth.  No matter how difficult circumstances might become in this life; those who have been saved by faith in Christ, have eternal reasons to give thanks.  This is the reason that a rich person who comes to Christ and as a result loses everything also has reason to rejoice in that humiliation.  Wealth is not proof of God’s blessing and loss of wealth is not a sign of God’s condemnation.  Many of the dispersed believers to whom James is writing would have likely been prominent members of Jewish society and enjoyed the comforts that wealth can facilitate.  Trusting Christ thrust them into a life of persecution where many lost their livelihood, homes, and the respect of the community.  This change of circumstance is difficult, but it is not permanent.  The wealth of this world can fade like a flower in the sun.  The promises of eternity for those who trust Christ are eternal in nature.

THE DANGER OF HIGH MEANS: There is an inerrant danger in wealth.  Perhaps the first danger is that of one’s own inability to recognize that they are wealthy.  Few of us consider ourselves to be rich, especially in American society.  The reality is that in light of the global economy most Americans are in the highest percentile of worldwide wealth.  The most dangerous aspect of wealth is that it can contribute to the faulty thinking of being able to live independently of God.  The pursuit of wealth and the pursuit of God are two very different pursuits.  Those who pursue wealth to the exclusion of God face the terrible danger of eternal condemnation.  No amount of money can purchase salvation.  However, the love of money can certainly become a functional god in our lives and that will ultimately lead to God’s judgment.  The believer who loses everything because of Christ has far greater reason for exaltation than the unbeliever who is living in the lap of luxury apart from God.  Wealth can be a clear and present danger.

APPLICATION: Look forward to and live in anticipation of the eternal exaltation we will enjoy in the presence of our Lord.  Take comfort in the Lord’s promises when we experience a life of poverty or fall into poverty as a result of following Christ.  Beware of our natural blindness to our own wealth and the danger that wealth can represent in our hearts causing us to trust in our own means as opposed to living in dependance on the Lord and placing our faith exclusively on Him.