James Part 3
Notes
Transcript
James, Part 4
James 1:9-11
Consider this: A Case Study
Repetition of Truth leads to real change. So let’s review:
Why James wrote this letter – so that we will be whole-hearted followers of Christ, mature and complete lacking nothing.
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
(2-4) How: Trials/testing
Method: Consider it great joy because enduring trials leads to maturity and wholeness.
Consider means to adopt a perspective or attitude. The gospel allows for this!
(5) Wisdom from above is required to be able to “consider” trials as joy. Not natural. Has to come from God.
(6-8) Ask believing. Otherwise, a disposition of doubting means lack of trust in God, unstable in all ways.
Hebrews 11:6 - “Without faith, it’s impossible to please God…”
Belief leads to generous lavishing of wisdom from God, though not necessarily all at once. Often developed over time as you continue trusting.
9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, 10 but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.
(9-11) We get something of a case-study by James as he addresses what must have been two of the most pressing concerns: those who had very little, and those who had much.
In both categories, he addresses it in terms of “boasting.”
· Boasting in humble circumstances
· Boasting in riches
Strange juxtaposition:
We can understand boasting in riches, but boasting in humble circumstances??
What does he mean by these two statements? Key word is found back in (2): “Consider”
In both scenarios, James is saying you have to consider an aspect of your situation to get it right. You have to adopt a position; a “consider yourself as” attitude.
1. Poor man- consider your exaltation
What are some of the temptations for those in “humble circumstances”?
· Frustration, worry/anxiety, fear, envy, doubt of God’s goodness, anger/bitterness, etc.
This is not godly wisdom, but earthly – “envy, selfish ambition, bitterness” (3:16)
Robs of joy!
Remedy:
“Consider”: In the same way considering that your trials lead endurance and full maturity, leading to joy, James wants to focus the Believer beyond the immediate reality to an eternal one: exaltation
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
– already seated!
Considering these truths change the outlook on your circumstances, so that you can boast in Christ: Paul 2 Corinthians 10:17 – “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” God has done this!
What about the rich? This one is more challenging to understand:
2. The Rich – consider his humiliation
Two legitimate ways to see this based on two possible groups of “rich”:
A. Christian believers with money – same as 2:15-16, 4:13
B. Non-believing rich oppressors: 2:6b-7, 5:1-6 most likely non-believers.
1. Those (2nd group) who are rich will pass away like flower in the field because they have trusted in wealth. Boast in the money they have because that is all the reward they will get. This is true.
Plenty of Scripture to support this (eg Matt. 6:24, Luke 6:24). Money cannot save you, but can often prevent you from being saved.
James might be saying this about the rich to strengthen his argument for the poor to take joy in their true status – exaltation – in light of the alternative.
2. Those (1st group) who are rich among the Believers who, like the poor, need to consider their identification with Christ differently than the poor consider exaltation.
Money easily produces counterfeit exaltation. Gives the illusion of power, and leads to foolishness rather than wisdom:
16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Instead…
9 …those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
So, wealthy Believers need to identify with Christ through his humiliation.
Matthew 16: 24-26
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.
Both James, Paul, and Jesus say the antidote to boasting in your riches is generosity:
Matthew 6:19-21
18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,
Summary:
Essentially, James is calling us all to look at life from God’s perspective, understanding we can’t do that without wisdom from above, so ask for it.
Poor are seated with Christ. This helps them see themselves rightly, preventing the enemy from overwhelming them by their challenging situation.
Rich Believers also seated with Christ, but to get them away from considering their riches as a means of security, and placing faith in them, they need to consider the humiliation of the cross and they are called to take up that position and follow Christ.
This will lead to leveraging their wealth rather than abusing it; making it a slave for God’s purposes, rather than being enslaved by it.
Regardless of which end of the spectrum you find yourself, or something in the middle, take joy because God has you where he wants you right now.
The difference in your contentment and joy will be dependent on how you consider the circumstances you are in:
· If with little, then perhaps it is to teach you dependence, contentment, or to deepen your faith.
· If you are rich, perhaps it is to teach you generosity, or self-denial, or faithfulness.
James goal is to shape us into the same attitude that Paul had – to be unaffected by your circumstances at all:
12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
