Weekly Sermon
James 1:9-10 reads, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”
The Holy Spirit inspired purpose for this epistle is to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the believer’s life. James 1:9-11 presents the second paragraph of the epistle. This paragraph gives counsel concerning the contrasting subjects of humble maturity and worldly materialism. The contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the closing line of the paragraph at the end of verse 11 -- “So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” This contextual situation primarily concerns the materialistic ways of the rich.
In the three verses of James 1:9-11, only two sentences are delivered. The first sentence of this paragraph is a compound sentence, encompassing both verse 9 and verse 10. The second sentence of the paragraph encompasses verse 11. Grammatically, the compound sentence of verses 9-10 can be divided into three parts. The first two parts of this sentence present two connected, yet contrasting instructions. The first instruction, found in verse 9, serves as an encouragement to the lowly believer. The second instruction, found in the opening portion of verse 10, serves as an exhortation to the wealthy believer. Finally, the third part of the sentence, found in the closing portion of verse 10, serves as an explanatory warning to the wealthy believer.
Now, the two instructions of verses 9-10 are governed by a single verb of command. This verb of command is the word “rejoice” found in verse 9. This word “rejoice” is translated from a Greek word that means, not simply to express joy and gladness, but to express exultation and glory. Through this single verb of command, the entire sentence emphasizes our Lord’s desire for us to glory in three particular matters.
James 1:9-10 reads, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”
The Holy Spirit inspired purpose for this epistle is to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the believer’s life. James 1:9-11 presents the second paragraph of the epistle. This paragraph gives counsel concerning the contrasting subjects of humble maturity and worldly materialism. The contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the closing line of the paragraph at the end of verse 11 -- “So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” This contextual situation primarily concerns the materialistic ways of the rich.
In the three verses of James 1:9-11, only two sentences are delivered. The first sentence of this paragraph is a compound sentence, encompassing both verse 9 and verse 10. The second sentence of the paragraph encompasses verse 11. Grammatically, the compound sentence of verses 9-10 can be divided into three parts. The first two parts of this sentence present two connected, yet contrasting instructions. The first instruction, found in verse 9, serves as an encouragement to the lowly believer. The second instruction, found in the opening portion of verse 10, serves as an exhortation to the wealthy believer. Finally, the third part of the sentence, found in the closing portion of verse 10, serves as an explanatory warning to the wealthy believer.
Now, the two instructions of verses 9-10 are governed by a single verb of command. This verb of command is the word “rejoice” found in verse 9. This word “rejoice” is translated from a Greek word that means, not simply to express joy and gladness, but to express exultation and glory. Through this single verb of command, the entire sentence emphasizes our Lord’s desire for us to glory in three particular matters.
Our Lord desires for us to glory in the promise of exaltation.
The first matter about which our Lord would have us to glory is the promise of exaltation for the spiritually humble. In verse 9 the instruction of God’s Word is given, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted.” Herein our Lord’s instruction is delivered to the “lowly” believer, to “the brother of low degree.” Since this “brother of low degree” from verse 9 is placed in direct contrast to “the rich” brother from verse 10, we may understand that he is a believer who is poor and lowly in the circumstances of this life. Yet the emphasis of this description is not placed upon his lack of financial means, for the word “poor” is not specifically used to describe him. Rather, the emphasis of this description is placed upon the lowly and humble spirit that this brother in Christ has learned through his poor condition. The emphasis is not placed upon his outward condition of circumstantial and financial lowliness, but upon the inward character of spiritual humility that he has learned thereby.
Such a lowly and spiritually humble believer is instructed by our Lord to glory “in that he is exalted.” He is to glory in the certain assurance of the Lord’s promise that the Lord our God Himself will lift him up and will exalt him in due time. First, such a lowly and spiritually humble believer should glory in that the Lord has promised to lift him up at the present time unto the high and holy place of spiritual fellowship with Himself. In Psalm 138:6 the promise is given, “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” Again in Isaiah 57:15 the promise is given, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Yet again in Isaiah 66:2 the promise is given, “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Finally, in James 4:6 the promise is given, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” To this verse 10 then adds the instruction and the promise, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Certainly the lowly and spiritually humble believer should be filled with joy in the Lord and praise unto the Lord for this great blessing of daily exaltation by God’s grace unto His blessed fellowship.
Second, such a lowly and spiritually humble believer should glory in that the Lord has promised to exalt him in due time unto the place of abundant blessing high above the proud and the wicked. In Psalm 37:11 the promise is given, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Again in Psalm 149:4 the promise is given, “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” Yet again in 1 Peter 5:6 the instruction and the promise is given, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” Even so, in Matthew 5:3 our Lord Jesus Christ delivered the promise, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Again in Matthew 18:4 He delivered the promise, saying, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Yet again in Matthew 23:12 He delivered the warning and the promise, saying, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” No matter how poor his present circumstances may now be, the lowly and spiritually humble believer should be filled with joy in the Lord and praise unto the Lord for the certain assurance of his exaltation in due time by God’s grace unto His abundant blessing.
Our Lord desires for us to glory in the promotion of humility.
The second matter about which our Lord would have us to glory is the promotion of humility through circumstantial reversals. In the opening portion of James 1:10, the instruction of God’s Word is given, “But the rich, in that he is made low.” Herein the verb of command is not included, because it is carried forward and grammatically understood from the previous instruction. Thus we find a direct connection between these two instructions, for both serve as an instruction to glory in a certain matter. Yet through the conjunction “but” with which this second instruction begins, we also find a distinct contrast between these two instructions. First, there is a contrast in their direction. The first instruction is directed toward the lowly believer, whereas the second instruction is directed toward the wealthy (rich) believer. Second, there is a contrast in their character. The first instruction directs the lowly believer to glory “in that he is exalted,” whereas the second instruction directs the wealthy believer to glory “in the he is made low.”
What then does it mean for the wealthy believer to glory “in that he is made low”? Since God’s Word describes him as “the rich” believer, we understand that such a one has been blessed by our Lord’s gracious hand with circumstantial success and prosperity. However, through his circumstantial success and prosperity, the wealthy believer will be greatly tempted to think more highly of himself than he ought to think. He will be greatly tempted to be highminded, thinking that he is superior to those who are circumstantially lower than he is. Even so, in 1 Timothy 6:17 the warning is given, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” This warning is spiritually significant because the sin of pride and highmindedness will do great spiritual damage to a believer’s walk with the Lord. The Lord our God “resisteth the proud” (James 4:6). The “proud look” is a hateful abomination in His sight (Proverbs 6:16-17). “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5). “The LORD will destroy the house of the proud” (Proverbs 15:25).
Therefore, the wealthy believer is instructed in James 1:10 to glory in those things that make him low. He is to glory in those circumstantial reversals that might teach him the spiritual characteristic of humility. He is to glory in anything, including any trial, trouble, or tribulation, that might prevent pride and highmindedness and promote lowliness and spiritual humility in his heart and life. Such was the case with the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. He had been circumstantially blessed “through the abundance of the revelations.” Thus, in order that he not be exalted with pride, he was given “a thorn in the flesh.” In verses 7-8 he gave the report, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” In the opening portion of verse 9, the apostle then recorded the Lord’s response to his prayer, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Finally, in the remainder of verses 9-10, the apostle gave his spiritually minded testimony in the matter, saying, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
The Lord our God “giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Therefore, the principle that we all are to glean from the instruction of James 1:10 is that we are to glory in any reversal that might promote humility in our hearts. Yea, we are most gladly to glory in such a promotion of humility in our hearts, because then we may experience and enjoy a greater outpouring of God’s grace upon our lives. Our priority must be set upon the spiritual character of humility, rather than upon the circumstantial condition of success.
Our Lord desires for us to glory in the prevention of materialism.
The third matter about which our Lord would have us to glory is the prevention of materialism through Scriptural understanding. In the closing portion of James 1:10, the warning of God’s Word is delivered unto the wealthy believer, “Because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.” This warning provides the reason that the wealthy believer should glory “in that he is made low.” The wealthy believer should glory in the promotion of humility through circumstantial reversals because material wealth is a vain foundation for life. It will soon pass away, and those who build their lives upon it will pass away with it. Herein the warning is not necessarily against the circumstantial condition of material wealth. Rather, the warning is against the spirit and ways of materialism that accompany that circumstantial condition. The warning is repeated in the closing line of verse 11, “So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”
From the Biblical perspective, materialism can be defined as placing a greater affection and attention upon the possession and pleasures of material wealth, than upon the fellowship and service of our Lord. Such a spirit and such ways of worldly materialism will only result in sinful corruption, spiritual backsliding, and sorrowful destruction. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10 the warning is presented, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Yea, such a spirit and such ways of worldly materialism will only bring the Lord’s judgment upon one’s life. In Psalm 52:5-7 the Lord’s judgment is pronounced, “God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
Even so, the warning against the spirit and ways and worldly materialism is also given in James 4:13-14, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Again the warning against the spirit and ways of worldly materialism is continued in James 5:1-3, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together [that is – the treasure of God’s wrath and judgment] for the last days.”
Therefore, the principle that we all are to glean from the warning of James 1:10 is that we are to glory in the prevention of worldly materialism in our hearts and lives. We are to glory in any circumstantial reversal that promotes spiritual humility in our hearts because that spiritual humility will guard us from the spirit and ways of worldly materialism. Furthermore, we are to glory in the prevention of worldly materialism in our hearts and lives because the spirit and ways of materialism lead only to corruption and destruction.
Posted in Weekly Sermon, James, Spiritual Joy, Heavenly Reward, Biblical Humility, Spiritual Growth, Sin of Materialism
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