Lowly or Rich – James 1:9-15

Studies suggest that accumulation of money leads often to less empathy, clouded moral judgment, addiction, and troubled children.  On the other hand, poor people tend to see the rich as evil.

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.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:9-15, ESV)

One of the trials that believers face is the financial trial. Many, many believers live in poverty, but part of the wisdom from God that the lowly brother or sister needs, is that in God’s eyes they are exalted. They have been elevated in Christ to a place of honor that the world may not understand or accept, but that God and His people understand. The poor believer is encouraged to boast in this spiritual exaltation.

The rich believer is encouraged in his trial of riches to boast in his or her humiliation. It is tempting to trust in and boast of one’s riches instead of trusting in God and His provision, but all such riches will pass away like grass under a withering sun. One’s riches are temporary and the wisdom the rich believer needs in this trial is to see his or her humble position, holding something that will not last and that God has only temporarily granted us to experience.

Whoever, then, stays steadfast and true to Christ in any trial and passes the test will, when Christ comes, receive a reward, the reward of eternal life that God promises to those who love Him. It is not that they so earned eternal life but that their steadfastness evidenced that they had truly believed and loved the Lord. In these trials the believer will experience temptation to sin but will not lay that at the feet of God, as if in allowing this trial He is personally tempting the believer to sin. The one who stays steadfast in trials will acknowledge that his or her temptation to sin came from within, from his or her own desires. God does not tempt anyone with evil. There is no innocent soul in whom He seeks to create a sinful response to trials. None of us is an innocent soul, of course, and God does not create sinful responses.

Are you rich or poor financially? That question might be answered differently based on who you compare yourself with. If you compare yourself with the vast majority of people in our world there is every likelihood that you must see yourself as rich. You don’t normally have concerns about where your next meal will come from or whether you will have a roof over your head or clothes to wear. You feel no sense of need to trust God for your daily bread. You must glory in your humiliation. You were desperately poor spiritually and God rescued you. He has given you wealth temporarily to be used generously to help others, but it may not last. You need to make yourself more aware of how dependent you are on God for all you have. You must pass the test of riches.