SERVE, verse 1: James humbly opens by introducing himself, not as half-brother to God, but as a bondservant. One who willingly has no possessions of his own, but who lovingly, gives his all in service to his Lord.
Let’s get one thing straight, says James, right out of
the gate, as leader of the Jerusalem Church, I am first and foremost, a
servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
JOY, verses 2-4: As we serve
the Lord and each other, we can count on having trouble, and when we do, count
it all joy. Let joy be our travel tunes, to help us smile through the
trials.
WISDOM, verses 5-8: To
navigate the trials, we need wisdom from above. If any lacks
wisdom, ask of God who gives in abundance, but only if we ask in faith, no
wavering, no doubting.
Thus, we journey humbly, serve joyfully, filled with
wisdom from above.
PERSPECTIVE, verses 9-11.
Which brings us to where we continue our journey through James.
James 1:9-11
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.
That may sound like a comparison between the rich and
the poor.
However, considering the context, and definitions of
the original text, we see the Lord is still talking about our journey.
It’s really, really, short.
So, it’s really, really, important we keep our trajectory
on Eternity.
Note, in the first line, both the lowly and the
rich are told to glory (rejoice). The lowly in his exaltation
and the rich in his humiliation, and for some reason that
is reason to celebrate, to glory in, to rejoice.
Why?
Well to see, we must uncover some hidden treasure.
Let the lowly brother...
In the Kingdom of God, we’re brothers and sisters,
family. Rich, poor, slave, free, red, yellow, black or white, we’re family.
Galatians
3:27-29
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if
you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs
according to the promise.
Romans
8:16-18
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer
with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
9Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but
the rich in his humiliation,
Lowly: tapeinos: Humble,
lowly
Humiliation: tapeinósis: lowliness,
abasement.
Lowly
and humiliation are basically the same word.
Matthew 28-29.
Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Now look at the word in the middle where X marks
the spot of a beautiful hidden treasure.
Exultation (Greek: hupsos):
Height, high place, on high, exaltation.
Luke 1:78.
Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from has
visited us from on high (hupsos).
Luke 24:29. Behold,
I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem
until you are endued with power from on high” (hupsos).
Ephesians 4:8. Therefore
He says: “When He ascended on high (hupsos), He led captivity
captive, and gave gifts to men.”
The Dayspring (Jesus) from on high (heaven).
Endued with Power from on high (heaven). He ascended on high
(heaven)...
Heaven is a wonderful reason to glory.
Let the lowly brother glory
in his heavenly Home.
Ephesians
2:4-6
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which
He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in
trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have
been saved), 6 and raised us up together,
and made us sit together in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus
That’s great, but what about the rich guy? He’s
supposed to glory in humiliation?
James 4:10.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
1 Peter 5:6.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you in due time.
The rich rejoices that he is humbled to his
heavenly Home.
The world’s economy is opposite the Kingdom of God.
The world says the lowly should long to be rich, but the
Kingdom of God says the rich should long to be lowly.
Glory in the ability to find humility.
10...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.
Matthew 18:3
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little
children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, the lowly are leaders, the first
are last, the greatest Servant of all is King of all, and only the humble are
allowed to enter.
Jesus said it’s easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew
19:24.
Not impossible.
Not easy.
The camel must kneel.
We must too.
Thus, with an Eternal Perspective, we
gladly glory in humility, knowing that's when and where we are exalted
on high together with Him.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming the
Way, so we can be family, together, with You, forever. Help us keep an Eternal
Perspective, allowing You to use us to make an Eternal difference to all those
You’ve given us, so none are lost.
Thank You.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
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1:9-11
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James 1:9-11
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