Content With God's Good Gifts Series

In 2016, Rosario Butterfield was speaking at university. After her talk, she met a young woman who was struggling. To Rosario and this lady went to visit the campus chaplain, who was also a counselor over the course of their conversation they found out that this young woman had been listening to a certain social media influencer for something like 10 hours a day, and rewatch video after video after video on a certain subject. She had become so influenced by this person online that she had become discontent with who she was as a woman as a human being. And as a result, she was going to take drastic action, but she was unsure if that action would actually accomplish what she thought it would.

It is easy for us to become discontent with various things in life. Today, as we dive into the book of James, it seems like he touches on that topic.

Open your bibles to James 1.

Last week, we began looking at the book of James as he seeks to provide wisdom for exiled believers.

If we were to boil all of the context of James into one singular message, he seems to be communicating, as Douglas Moo suggests, that “Spiritual ‘wholeness’… is the central concern of the letter.” In other words, James is urging people to be sold-out followers of Christ. This means that whether in times of peace or trial, poverty or wealth, suffering, sickness, or health - we are to be followers of Christ through and through - finding our identity in and acting like Christ. To navigate this takes wisdom and discernment - which we receive from God. It won’t be easy, but as we’ll see to day, it will be worth it.

So, as we dive into today’s text, we’ll be looking at James 1:9-18.

James 1:9–18 ESV

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

?

It seems like the point of these verses is that …

“Our station in life is a gift from God, therefore we should be content, persevering under that trials that God allows, looking forward to the eternal reward God will provide.”

You might be looking at that statement and the verses that we just read and be thinking, Joel, how did you get there? Well, I’m glad you asked. Let’s dive into it carefully, but remember context is key.

In the first few verses of our text, we begin to see that…

Our station in life is a gift therefore we can rejoice (9-11)

By station in life, I’m referring to the place that God has us. Workplace, financial conditions, school, abilities, etc. for example, if you’re working, your job affords you a certain lifestyle. It affords certain experiences and faces a certain mixture of obstacles.

One thing I believe James is communicating is that our station is a gift.

Right before this, James urged us to ask God for wisdom because God is a generous, gift-giving God. We shouldn’t doubt.

(talk about the brackets briefly - gift/gift, trials/trials)

Look again at verses 9-11

James 1:9–11 ESV

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

So here, James says something that is very oxymoronic or contradictory. How can a lowly or poor brother boast in his exaltation, he has nothing to boast about? How can a rich person boast in humiliation - he has everything he could want?