Tuesday | James 1:9-11
James 1:9-11
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 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.
One of the most sensitive subjects of conversation can finances, particularly in the church. It’s a sensitive topic of discussion for reasons that range from bad and poor experiences in the church to areas of debate on whether or not Christians should be poor or rich. Whatever the reason may be, nothing sparks a mode of defense more than the topic of personal finance or sex. Today, we’re looking at our wallets however, in a way that is a little different than what we’re thinking.
The main question raised from today’s text isn’t whether or not Christians should be poor or rich, but whether or not we are godly, Christ-like. The Bible teaches that there are two categories of people: godly and ungodly and both have differing views on whether or not the gospel forms them in their understanding of godliness.
The godly poor - The godly poor are able to count it all joy in spite of their circumstance (James 1:2-3) and find their comfort, identity, and security in what Jesus has done for them, not the perception of the world around them.
The ungodly poor - Proverbs recognizes this person as a sluggard (Proverbs 21:25) and will often spend money foolishly and exhibit false humility.
The godly rich - It is not a bad thing to be wealthy, but pursuing godliness means that you live counter-culturally in spite of your socio-economic status (Matthew 6:24). Wealth is a gift not an achievement.
The ungodly rich - The reason wealth is your treasure is because it’s an identity you can purchase. Identity in Christ can only be received because it is a gift not a transaction.
Each one of these persons needs the gospel. They need the gospel in order to be comforted and encouraged or convicted and exhorted. Regardless, Jesus desires to see hearts transformed, not by finance, but by His spirit. What gospel are you relying on today?
Questions for Reflection
1. James points out our tendency to boast in ourselves and rely on our own accomplishments. Both the rich and the poor have this tendency; James address both. How does material wealth tend to lead to self-reliance? Does material poverty always lead to reliance on God?
2. What kinds of things besides wealth do you tend to rely on and boast in for a sense of well being and security rather than on God?