This morning we are going to look at a paradox. A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself. We are going to see that from God’s perspective that the way up is down. God’s values are the opposite to those of the world when it comes to what REALLY matters in life. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 11:4, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.” Jesus added in Matthew 6:20-21, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Where are your treasures?

Warren Wiersbe reminds us that, “it is not your material resources that take you through the testings of life; it is your spiritual resources.”

Transition

In our text today, James describes for us both divine elevation and divine demotion.

Poor Christians must glory in divine elevation

1. Note the command (v.9)
   1. The brother of low degree is addressed first. He is called a brother because he is a Christian.
   2. To be of low degree means to be brought low near the ground. When contrasted with the rich in the next verse, we learn that James is speaking of those who were very poor. Many Christians were poor, particularly because of persecution. Christians were often despised by the world. They were cheated, robbed, abused and forbidden work, all of which made them even poorer.
   3. James commands these poor believers to rejoice. This word literally means to glory or to boast. God does not want His children to be downhearted when they do not have much in this world.
2. Note the reason (v.9)
   1. The poor believer is to rejoice in that he is exalted. This speaks of his divine elevation. This is a paradox. He is brought low near the ground with poverty, yet he is elevated up to heaven.
   2. The poor person is to take pride in his hope of elevation. In this world, he had nothing for which to glory. But in the world to come, he has much for which to glory.
      1. A poor Christian must not look at his material poverty, but at his spiritual treasures.
      2. He must remember that he is a child of the KING! He is a member of the Royal family. He is an heir to God’s kingdom (Jas 2:5).
      3. (Romans 8:17) “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
      4. (1 Peter 1:3-5) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
   3. My friend, if you do not have much in this life and if trials come and you lose the little that you have, you must still glory in the fact that you are a child of the KING and have an eternal home in heaven!
      ² Jim Reeves wrote a chorus that reminds us of this truth. “This world is not my home I’m just a-passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me From heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home In this world anymore.”

Rich Christians must glory in divine demotion

1. Note the command (v.10)
   1. James now addresses the rich. While being wealthy was not the norm for early Christians, there were a few who had many material possessions.
   2. James commands the rich to glory in that he is made low. This word low describes abasement, humiliation, lowness or depression. In context, it speaks of divine demotion. God has either allowed him to lose material possessions during trials of life or caused him to see that true riches are not material but spiritual. In this, he is commanded to glory or boast.
   3. Often those who have plenty in this life struggle with pride. They tend to glory in their success. They live for the praise of men. They long for the approval of others. All such prideful attitudes are sinful. Before God can use them, He must divinely demote them. He may allow them to lose their material wealth or He may humble them to the point that they will glorify Him.
   4. If you have more than many folk in this world, God wants you to take your eyes off the material things of this life and focus on eternal things that will last.
   5. (Colossians 3:1-2) “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
   6. (Luke 12:15) “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
2. Note the reason (v.10-11)
   1. As a flower of grass, the wealthy person will pass away. Life is like a flower, here today and gone tomorrow.
   2. (Luke 12:16-21) “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
   3. God describes the brevity of a flower’s life further (v.11). When the sun comes up with its burning heat, the grass dries up and the flower falls off. The beauty of its appearance will be forever gone.
   4. Notice what Jesus said about lilies in Matthew 6:28-29, “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
   5. God has created thousands of kinds of awesomely beautiful flowers, yet all of them have one thing in common, they live a short life. Some may live longer than others, but all eventually wilt, dry up, and fall off their stem.
   6. God gives this illustration to those who are wealthy as a reminder of their end – “so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” The ways or pursuits of wealthy people will one day be destroyed. We would do well to remember the words of (1 Timothy 6:7) “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
   7. When a wealthy person humbles himself and realizes that the possessions of this life will all be left behind and he begins to focus on his true riches in heaven, only then can he glory properly. When he stops seeking a name for himself and begins using his wealth to promote the gospel, he can then glory in his divine demotion.

Conclusion

If you are a poor Christian, God wants you to rejoice that He has divinely elevated you. You are a child of the KING with a home in heaven. If you are a well-to-do Christian, you must rejoice in God’s divine demotion. Humble yourself, use what God has given you to promote the gospel, and rejoice that your true riches are in heaven.

This morning I have been addressing Christians. Perhaps you are not 100% positive you are a child of God. If so, I would like to show you from the Bible how you can be.

Song: Thank You Lord – 221
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Trials of Poor and Rich
14 August 2016 AM – James 1:9-11 – Jas16 – Scott Childs