Wisdom for the Poor and the Rich
Text: James 1:9-12
Core Idea: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jam. 1:12). Then let us keep eternity in our hearts as we turn our eyes to Christ – the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
INTRODUCTION
We are going through the book of James – looking at different ways the gospel impacts our lives. And here’s what we learned so far. Two weeks ago, we talked about the reality of trials – that trials are inevitable, that they come in many kinds, and that they come unexpectedly. And this of course is something we know to be true just by looking at our lives. But what did surprise us was that James called us to consider all trials pure joy. Again, to clarify, this wasn’t a call to enjoy our trials as if we’re happy to suffer or a call to hide our grief as we pretend to be happy. No, this was a call to perceive, think of our trials as pure joy knowing that God is testing our faith, producing perseverance, and making us more like Christ through our trials. All this to say, our trials will not be wasted – God will use them to accomplish His purpose in us. Now, last week, James shared that if we’re having a difficult time doing this, we ought to ask God for His wisdom because it will help us navigate through our trials. The only warning was that we shouldn’t be double-minded but trust that His ways are always good. Today, James will conclude his thoughts on trials. So, let’s open our Bibles to James 1:9-12. Let me read this for us.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Now, if you were to read this on its own, you may think that James is jumping into a new topic. But considering that his thoughts on trials end in verse 12, we can safely assume that this text about the poor and the rich must also be related to trials. Then how should we understand this passage? Well, James is actually giving us an illustration of how God’s wisdom can transform the way we perceive our trials. In other words, here are two case studies on how we can apply God’s wisdom to our circumstances. Then let me share three things from this passage:
· WISDOM FOR THE POOR
· WISDOM FOR THE RICH
· THE REWARD
1) WISDOM FOR THE POOR
Verse 9, “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.” The words “humble circumstances” are actually one word in Greek which also means lowliness, adversity, or poverty. Then here, James is talking to the poor – those who may be struggling financially. Now, we know that James isn’t offering this wisdom to all the poor in the world because he refers to them as “believers.” Then he’s talking to Christians who are often looked down upon, quickly dismissed, and perceived as insignificant because of their poverty – those who have no power, no influence. And here’s what James calls them to do: take pride. What does it mean to take pride? This word in Greek also means to glory in, to rejoice in, or to boast in something. Now, we typically think of “boasting” as something bad because it’s often associated with arrogance. But the Bible clearly tells us that boasting itself isn’t bad – it’s what you boast in that makes your boasting pleasing or repulsive to God. Then what’s James calling the poor to boast in? First of all, not in their poverty because there’s nothing to celebrate about poverty. Poverty by itself is no virtue. Poverty doesn’t automatically make you humble – in fact, you could be poor and still be wicked, greedy, and proud. Then what are they to boast in? Well, they’re called to boast in their high position. Here’s what this means. It’s true that the poor may have nothing that the world would consider valuable, they have nothing they can offer that the world would consider attractive, but James reminds them that they’ve been given the greatest gift of all, the treasure of treasures – a personal relationship with the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Creator God. In other words, it’s true that the poor may not be in a high position from the world’s perspective, but they are in God’s perspective through Jesus Christ. James is basically saying to them, “Your identity, your value, your significance is not defined by your earthly possessions but by your heavenly standing that has been given to you by the One who took your place on the cross. And because you’ve been united with Him who now sits at the right hand of God, you’re also lifted and exalted through Him. In Christ, you have power, honor, and glory. All that belongs to Him is now yours to enjoy.” This is what the poor can take pride in – their high position in Jesus Christ.
The truth is that when trials come, it’s so hard for us to keep what’s important important in our lives – and at the same time, the things that weren’t designed to be as important rise to become the most important in our lives. Isn’t that true? When we first came to Christ, we were overwhelmed by His beauty, humbled by His power, and comforted by His goodness. His grace was all that we desired, and His grace was enough to carry us through every single day. But one day, His grace became familiar to us – and instead of allowing that familiarity to deepen our gratitude, our minds stopped reflecting and our hearts stopped responding. Our minds weren’t filled with wonder and our hearts weren’t overflowing with worship anymore, but we became apathetic and unmoved by His glory. And when trials came, because we were hurting, because we were so desperate, we quickly turned to the things that felt much more real, much more tangible – things that we thought could provide solutions to our problems now. So, we began to live by sight, not by faith. And what fueled this problem even more so was the temptation to compare ourselves to others. When we’re struggling, it feels like everyone else is doing well – enjoying the life that we always wanted. Their social media accounts seem to suggest that they’re having a problem-free life – they’re always going on a trip somewhere, eating good food, and enjoying great company; their marriage seems to be perfect, and their children are always happy. Their lives remind us of all that we don’t have – and we begin to think, “Only if I could have that, my life would be better. Only if God could give me this, I wouldn’t be in so much pain.”
If this is you, listen to the wisdom that James offers you here. He’s inviting us to turn our eyes away from ourselves, away from others, and place them upon Christ – and remember our heavenly standing in Him. Only then, as the song that we just sang says, will the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Only then will we begin to realize that we are truly rich in Christ. Only then will we begin to see Jesus as our glory and our prize – the only One we should boast in and adore. When we fix our eyes on what we don’t have, we’ll begin to perceive God to be stingy or unfair – and we’ll see our lives to be incomplete, always lacking. But when we begin to look at all that we already have in Jesus Christ, we’ll be able to perceive God as generous and gracious – and we’ll see our lives to be completely satisfying. Then brothers and sisters, do you realize that we who were once enemies of God are now called the children of God? Do you realize that we who were once dead in our transgressions are now alive in Christ – being able to enjoy life and life to the full? Then here’s the reason why you and I can stand firm and even boast in poverty: it’s because we have everything we need and desire in Jesus Christ. This world has nothing for us because Christ is everything to us. Then let me ask you again, “Is what’s important truly important in your life today?” Let’s not allow our poverty to deceive us, lead us astray, but let’s rediscover the true joy in Christ once again.
2) WISDOM FOR THE RICH
Verse 10. James now turns his attention to the rich. And even though it’s not explicit here, if we follow the logic, it’s safe to assume that James is talking to Christians who also happen to be rich. And here’s what James says to them: just like the poor, the rich should also learn to boast – but unlike the poor, they should take pride in their humiliation, in their low position. What does this mean? This of course makes sense only if we realize that grace levels the playing field for everyone. It’s impossible for anyone to earn their salvation because what God requires is perfection. Then James is reminding them that they’re not saved by their wealth, but only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He’s basically asking them, “Why boast in something that will ultimately fade away? Remember that your wealth will pass away like a wildflower. When the sun rises with its scorching heat, the flower withers, and its beauty is destroyed. That’s the picture of your earthly treasures – they will fade away to nothing. You have nothing to boast in yourself, but you have everything to boast in Christ. He is your treasure. He is your life.” Jesus illustrates this well through a parable in Luke 12:16-21, which says, “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” That’s essentially what James is calling them to do: take their eyes off money and be rich toward God. They should set their hope in Jesus, not money. They should depend on Jesus, not money. They should be consumed by Jesus, not money. And most importantly, they should do this because their wealth (listen carefully) can become a source of their trials. That’s what James is saying here.
Now, think about what I just said – our wealth can become a source of our trial. I know that sounds absurd. I don’t think there’s anyone here who’s suffering or frustrated because they have too much money. You see, our anxiety about money doesn’t come from the fact that we have too much money but it’s that we feel like we don’t have enough. This is true because many of us assume that having more money is always better. We think that money is not a problem – it’s the solution. Who would argue against the statement, “It’s better to be rich than poor”? And that’s not just true here in the West; it’s a global thing – that’s how the world thinks. But let me ask you, “How does God think of money? What does the Bible say about money?” Brothers and sisters, we must have the wisdom of God to perceive our wealth as God sees not as the world sees. We must learn to rightly assess our earthly wealth by focusing on our heavenly standing.
Now, to be clear, biblically speaking, money and wealth are not bad in themselves. It’s not unspiritual to think, “I have to pay my bills. I have to feed my kids.” In fact, 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” It’s loving and responsible to care for yourself and your family. But the problem is in the love of money. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” The Bible makes it clear that it’s not sinful to be rich, but the rich are standing on dangerous ground because the temptation to set their hearts on something other than Jesus is constantly tugging at their hearts. Then here’s the point that James wants to make: Being poor can be a source of your trials because your pain can cause you to lose sight of Jesus but being rich can also be a source of your trials because your comfort – the power and the privilege that your money brings can cause you to lose sight of Jesus. I’m not sure if you’ve ever considered your riches a source of your trials but I pray that you would have the ears to hear this truth today. Do you realize that when you get a raise, when you get promoted, you’re not just being blessed but you’re also being tested? Do you realize that when prosperity comes, when the blessings increase, competition begins in your heart? The stakes are high here – our wealth can make us or break us. No wonder James warns the rich to view themselves through the wisdom of God – to know who they are in Christ.
Now, if you’re still struggling with this right now, if you’re still having a difficult time letting go of your money, meditate on what Jesus said in Mark 8:34-37, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Jesus is basically asking, “What’s the point of having the whole world – all the money, all the possessions, all the beauty, all the glamor, all the success, all the fame in the world if your soul will be condemned for eternity? What’s more attractive: temporary pleasure that leads to eternal suffering or temporary suffering that leads to eternal joy?” Brothers and sisters, I hope that you’ll have the faith to believe that your soul matters more because whatever you’re holding onto right now (the very thing that may be keeping you from surrendering your life to Jesus, the very thing that’s preventing you from going deeper in your relationship with Jesus), He is telling you that you will inevitably lose it. Then let me ask you, “Are those things really worth more than your soul?” Friends, God’s not trying to take away the good stuff from your life – He’s actually trying to give you what’s real, what’s valuable, what’s truly good, and what will last. Jim Elliot said it this way, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Then let’s learn to look beyond our abundance and rejoice in the One who made Himself low for us because our earthly status is temporary, but our heavenly status is secure in Christ.
3) THE REWARD
This is the conclusion that James offers us on the topic of trial – verse 12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” So far, we talked about how trials foster godliness, weaken sin, and mold us to become more like Jesus Christ – the blessings that are available to us now. But James ends this section by reminding us of the reward that we’ll receive when we stand face to face with our Lord and Savior – the crown of life. Now, what’s the crown of life? Let me explain it this way. A king doesn’t boast in the actual crown that he’s wearing, but in the authority, the power that the crown represents. Sure, the crown itself can still be valuable but it’s what that crown symbolizes that matters more. Then when James says that we will receive the crown of life, it could be that we will receive a physical crown to wear on our heads but it’s more about what the crown of life actually represents – which is the victory that we have in Christ; the glorious life that we get to enjoy when He comes back again. It’s the life that we get to enjoy as the children of the King.
Now, if we’re honest, sometimes we wonder if this is all worth it. We ask ourselves, “What’s the point of being faithful?” We think this way because life is hard, confusing, and, at times, meaningless. The life that God has called us to live isn’t always easy. Friends, if you feel this way today, first of all, be comforted to know that the Bible is unbelievably honest about the struggles of our faith. Scripture doesn’t avoid the hard questions. Scripture doesn’t avoid the harsh realities of living in a fallen world. David doesn’t hold back in his cries and complaints – Psalm 13:1-2 says, “How long, LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” James doesn’t pretend that life is perfect. No, he’s actually very honest about the reality of trials. And yet he also calls us to remember who God is in the midst of our pain – to know that our God is gracious, generous, patient, wise, sovereign, and good in all circumstances. And the best part of this is that we don’t have to be someone to be accepted by this God – we don’t have to do something to be noticed by Him. In fact, the gospel says that in love, He sought us out. He’s the One who found us and brought us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Pet. 2:10) – which is why we can come as we are. Then let me ask you, “What’s burdensome in your life? What’s afflicting your heart? What questions do you have for God?” Come and tell Him today. Not just once but tell Him, ask Him again and again and again and again. I invite you to be desperate for Him – for His presence and His wisdom.
And at the same time, remember that there’s a real reward waiting for you. Remember that there are eternal blessings for what you do here. Your decisions, your actions, your sacrifices, your perseverance, and your lives here on earth – they all matter because they will all lead us to the crown of life. In other words, we cannot understand God’s call in our lives unless we think of it in light of eternity. Brothers and sisters, it really is worth obeying God because there’s such a thing as eternity. Think about it. If this present life is all that we have and there’s no such thing as eternity, then, yes, go ahead and live your life. Do everything you can to get everything, enjoy everything here and now because this is it – there’s nothing to look forward to after this. Do what you want, what’s comfortable, what’s convenient, what’s pleasurable. Place yourself at the center of your life. But that’s not what James believes. He’s reminding us that there is such a thing as eternity – that this life is not the end but that there is this glorious and eternal life of reward that will last forever. And on that day, everything you’ve ever suffered (every trial, every difficulty, every sadness) will seem like a flash of a moment compared to the eternal joy that we’ll experience in Christ. Brothers and sisters, perceive your trials in light of eternity. This will bring us hope again because it tells us how our stories will end. Yes, we may not have everything we desire here, but we’ll be completely full and satisfied there. We may feel crippled here, but we’ll be restored to perfection there. We may feel bogged down by our sins today, but we will one day be freed from our sins. So, don’t invest your life here on earth – invest in the life to come. Our faithfulness is worth it because we will live forever.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, let’s remember that “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jam. 1:12). Then let us keep eternity in our hearts as we fight to keep what’s important truly important in our lives. Let’s turn our eyes to Him and stand our ground knowing that the crown of life is promised to those who love Him.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) What does it mean for the poor to take pride in their high position? What makes this difficult to do?
2) What does it mean for the rich to take pride in their humiliation? What makes this difficult to do?
3) How can you apply God’s wisdom in your trial today? How has been God guiding you in your trials?
4) What is the crown of life? Why is it important to think of our trials in light of eternity? How does that help us persevere? What can we do so that we can keep eternity in our minds?