Treasures in Heaven
Notes
Transcript
9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Here James compares and contrasts the poor brother with the rich. He encourages them to glory or “boast” about their exaltation and humiliation, respectively.
The Paradoxical Nature of this Claim
The Paradoxical Nature of this Claim
At a glance, this seems paradoxical. Why should the
Lowly Brother, glory in his exaltation v. 9
But the rich in his humiliation v. 10
The Hope We Have
The Hope We Have
It is a very challenging trial for one to be poor. James is encouraging his poor Brothers, many of whom are facing financial difficulties, possibly in a large part, due to them being a Christian.
There was, and still is a very real possibility for people to treat someone differently based on their economic status. James warns Christians not to do this in the beginning of Chapter 2 James 2:1-7
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
It is very clear that people look down and even oppress the poor. And here, James encourages the lowly brother to “glory in his exaltation”.
This is because we can have hope that we will be exalted. Even if we are in a lowly place, being persecuted and dishonored, we are striving for something better. We are striving for the “crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” in Chapter one verse 12.
Furthermore, “Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him”?
God has promised us a Crown of Life and the ability to be heirs of His Glorious kingdom
This World is temporary
This World is temporary
If this is the case, why do we hold onto our earthly riches? Especially when we read in James 1:9-11
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Here we get a picture of how long our riches in this world will last. Our riches are like a flower, that is beautiful, it looks good, it smells good, but in the end, it withers and dies and is gone.
This metaphor shows us two hard truths about our earthly riches
Riches are fleeting
Riches don’t fulfill us
Riches are fleeting because we can lose them, our life is short, and nothing is guaranteed. All it takes is for the sun to come up, and the flower will fall.
Car accident
Each year more than 1.35 million people die in automobile accidents. That equates to more than 3,700 deaths each day.
1 John 2:16–17 (NKJV)
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Our treasures on this Earth are not guaranteed. They are fleeting. We ought to think of whether or not we are focusing on things that will matter a million years from now, after we are no longer on this Earth.
Because riches are fleeting, they are unfulfilling.
Every year, during Valentine’s day, there are a ton of people that buy their significant others flowers and chocolate. And every year, there are a ton of people who feel loved: they taste the sweet chocolate, and the flowers are beautiful. But, every year, a couple of weeks later, the chocolate is all gone, and the beautiful flowers have died and lost their beauty.
These flowers, while a beautiful source of pleasure for a time, leave people unfulfilled, and it takes continuous displays of affection for people to feel loved. Just celebrating your love for someone once or twice a year does not lead to a fulfilling relationship.
Oftentimes, we look to the things of this world for satisfaction, but if we are being honest with ourselves, we would realize that these things leave ourselves unfulfilled.
Jeremiah talks about this in Jeremiah 2:13
13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.
We often leave the living water, which is God, and try to make our own cisterns, but we end up thirsty and wanting more.
Instead we should follow David’s example in Psalm 63:1-5
1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
Appeal
Appeal
I know that there is someone here who is unfulfilled by the things of this world. Maybe you have tried to fill yourself by buying stuff, or working, or social media, or relationships, or video games, or sex, or whatever else you try to fill yourself with. But, at the end of the day, you realize that you are empty, that you are thirsty and wanting something more, something that can satisfy you. If this is what you need, I invite you to come to the Lord, your Friend and Loving Father and talk to Him with me today.
Kind Heavenly Father, we know you give good gifts to your children, but so often, we try to make it on our own. We try to dig our own wells, but our wells don’t hold up. They leave us thirsty. Lord, we come to you, knowing that You are the Living Water, the only thing that can quench our thirst. Lord, we ask that you help us to lay aside the fleeting things of this world that we have tried to fill ourselves with. In their place, we invite You to fill our hearts with your Word, with Your Love, and with Your Living Water. Deliver us from temptation so that we can receive the Crown of Life and be heirs of your kingdom, like you have promised.
We ask this, knowing you know our hearts, in Jesus Name, Amen.