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“The Reversal of Fortunes”
James 1:9-11
“True wealth is measured not in money but in faith.”
Sunday Morning Sermon
08.05.07
Intro: (start with title and text)
Good Morning! It’s good to see you here this morning. It is hard to let go of what you’ve got. I’ve watch Hailey and Brianna in the nursery and Hailey isn’t good at sharing – she’s quick at saying, MINE. You have this adorable sweet kid with great parents – and even she isn’t good at giving stuff up.
I heard a story of a man who bought his son a XBOX 360, ½ a dozen games, a big TV and all the wireless accessories you could want. He was sitting on the couch and he asked his son if he (the old man) could give it a shot. The son told him, NO, it’s mine. The father says, “I did a 180 on the 360 and everything is now in the game room, and I’m the only one with a key.” It’s not easy to let go of what you’ve got.
Discussion:
We all have things we want. Things we could live without, but if we had the money we’d get it. Our society is built like that – because America has been richly blessed – we are consumer driven. We get offers in the mail – buy it now, pay for it later. I bet they don’t have those offers in Zimbabwe. Because we live in the world we do – we will have people who have a lot and people who don’t have much at all. Those people exist inside and outside the church. (advance)
Turn with me to James 1:9-11 (Read)
James is writing to the church, Jewish Christians. I see two things this morning – really descriptions of people inside the church.
(advance)
I. Humble brother (9)
It’s not so much the person he’s talking about – but the circumstances. He’s poor. He’s a Christian brother and he’s poor – this doesn’t have a dollar amount with it, necessarily. The brother is unimportant he’s looked over and passed by.
a. He doesn’t have much value – according to the world.
i. Maybe he’s just a number at work
ii. He doesn’t stand out much
1. His car, his house and his clothing are nothing special
According to our society – we don’t go after this kind of person. He would never run for public office, never be a leader, and never be on the decision end of anything. Our churches have had a bad habit of putting men who were successful in the business world in leadership in the church. This person would be overlooked and possibly even rejected.
b. Here’s his hope
i. He is Christian – saved by grace, bought by the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross – CHRISTIAN.
c. Here’s what he can do
i. “take pride in his high position”
Not here…the position that he takes pride in is not the current circumstances. He doesn’t look at his 17 year old Chevette and boast about it, he’s not lining it up for classic car shows. Because according to the world – He’s nothing – there is no high position. What is there to take pride in? I believe it’s two fold.
d. His source of pride
i. His faith – the now
True wealth is not measured in money but in faith. Jesus says that the poor in spirit will own the kingdom of heaven.
I look back at our marriage (12 years today) and when we first got married we were POOR. We were so broke we couldn’t pay attention. Our faith in Jesus and what he’s done for us – was strong. I see the hand of Jesus walking us through times in our marriage when only he could get us through – his power, his love, and his forgiveness. Maybe we didn’t have status in the world. But we had our faith – and we still do. While your faith doesn’t pay the phone bill – you couldn’t look up ATT.COM and put faith as a method of payment. But even in a low, humble position God can and will bless your life. He might do it through money, but I believe that he will take care of your needs, and use that time to help you see his mighty hand.
ii. His future position
This is kingdom talk, but it’s also future blessing talk. I read verses like:
(advance)
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
And: (advance)
Matthew 6:25 (NIV) – "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
I get the idea that God is going to take care of our needs. He does this through jobs and family and our church, surrounding us with people who love us and can encourage positive things in our lives. I get the idea that God is waiting for us to seek after him with all our hearts (the bible promises that we will find him), and he prepares us for his blessing. The blessing can come in financial gain – it can. But more than that – it will come in other ways. I think this brother in humble circumstances can look at his life and know that God is still working and preparing.
e. Put yourself in humble circumstances
i. Through getting overwhelmed with bills
1. Buy the Mustang you really want
2. Charge up and extend credit on all the credit cards you can get.
American households now carry an average $9,660 in credit-card debt.
3. Buy the house you know you can’t afford
4. Quit your job so you have more time to play golf
You can put yourself in humble circumstances through sin, through not taking care of your responsibilities. You can get yourself overwhelmed, bankrupt, and lonely. Listen, if you do – you will never receive a true blessing from God, and without repentance you will never have a place in the kingdom. James calls this man a “Brother”. He’s a Christian – it assumes that he’s not in a position of humility because of his sin. It also assumes that he’s at the point in his life that God is preparing him for blessing.
If I live in the humble circumstance – and God blesses me out of it. I can take what I’ve learn in that time, and bless those around me. I think it makes you aware of people who are where you have been…and you want to help them.
f. If you can identify with brother humble
i. Take pride and have confidence that it will not last forever
Be open to what God is doing in you and through you. Be confident that he will provide your needs. Heaven and glory and your high position are waiting, but I don’t believe, biblical that’s your only reward – I think God credits you here with mercy and wealth (maybe it’s not the millions you hope for) but true wealth is not measured in money but in faith. Here’s the second group (advance)
II. Rich man
Is he a brother, a Christian, a fellow believer? That’s a great question. Gary Holloway says that he is probably not a Christian. James is drawing a contrast to rich people outside the church and the poor people inside the church. Other authors say he’s a believer; some join Holloway and come to the conclusion that he is not Christian.
a. Let’s assume both
i. NON-Christian – rich man
He has his high position status – doesn’t say how he got it but he’s there for the entire world to see. He sees wealth in dollar signs, and as a means for getting more. He doesn’t give away what he has – but works at storage of more stuff – for a rainy day. He does see his wealth as a blessing from God but something he’s earned, so it’s not God’s money, it’s his.
1. He probably takes care of his family – they pose for pictures once a year for the Christmas card.
2. He probably has nice stuff – couple cars; nice house, padded bank account, good job.
You read verses like this one in James vs. (advance) 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
You could come to the conclusion – regardless of how a person gets wealthy – God doesn’t like them. I could spend the next 20 minutes reading verses about what God thinks of rich people – none of it is good. God hates rich people. Amen – let’s eat. I want to be very clear about something. God doesn’t hate people – he hates what we do to separate ourselves from him. He hates what we fill our lives with, what we spend our money on that doesn’t involve him.
Andrew Tubbs is a swimmer – swimming and going to competitions and stuff like that does not involve God – but if he uses it as a witness to those around him it can, God will bless his love for swimming. What happens if the swim meets conflict with church – like all the time? What happens if he focuses his whole life on becoming the best swimmer possible and doesn’t acknowledge God, doesn’t come to fellowship, doesn’t ask for God’s blessing? God will not bless him. God does not like what we put in front of him.
The same is true with our money. If we put something in front of our God so we can get more money, build up wealth, gain status, increase our importance, God is not going to like it. He promises something, last part of verse 10 – he will pass away like a wild flower. Words like “Pass away” or vs. 11 “fade away” gives the idea that the rich person never did anything for God, but focused on wealth, and gaining more. It leans to the idea that the man was not a Christian, he was not a believer. The promise of the rich man fading away even while he goes about his business – literally “while he travels”.
Several years ago one of my youth ministers passed away. A man who made a huge impact in my life – taught me a lot about life and encouraged excellent behavior. I knew his kids but not real well – He has 5 children. One of the things I could tell those kids is how much their dad meant to my faith. How investing in my life, and being an instrument of God, grew the kingdom. That has nothing, zero, zip, to do with money, but it has everything to do with wealth.
b. Assume this person is a brother
i. A rich man inside the church
ii. Doesn’t say how he got his money – I doubt it matters
What is God’s response to rich people who are Christian? If you follow the money principles in the Bible and the well developed sermons that you hear every Sunday – you will have extra money. You honor God with your money; he will give you more so you can continue to honor him. If your attitude about money and possessions is: I’m simply a caretaker of what is already his – he will keep you busy at that work of caretaking. Try me on this – if it doesn’t work you haven’t lost anything.
I know people like this – they are smart financially, high integrity and richly blessed. They see their money as a way to bless and encourage those around them, not as a tool for personal gain.
God’s response in heaven:
c. Well done
When you have honored God with your stuff, money, family, and work – he honors you. You still need grace, you still need his mercy, but he will honor you. He will give your grieving spouse and children a testimony about the kingdom influence you had. Instead of people claiming how good you were, they can testify to your godliness.
Conclusion:
I would rather preach ten sermons on hell than one on money. Do you remember the air conditioned dog houses, and the big white gates leading to a mansion? Do you remember the pray towel sales and tap water placed in a vale – free shipping if you act fast. Do you remember the tax evasion and fraud charges, with jail time included?
Somewhere between air conditioned dog houses and not giving at all is where we should be. A good response to this sermon – is prayer. Asking God if you are where you should be.
Your heart and your treasure are connected. Jesus said so. This is not so much about the mighty dollar as it is a mighty God, and our response to his work in our lives. If we have been blessed with his forgiveness and his grace and we know his Son Jesus – let us do something about it. If we find ourselves in a humble position – let us be encouraged at what he’s going to do, and even what he’s doing now. If he has given you financial blessing – acknowledge the source of that blessing, ask him where he can use it, ask him where he can make the kingdom grow. Please pray about it.
Let’s pray.
We are going to have a song of invitation – but the best response to this message is prayer. Every week – we do this – not asking you to respond to me or even the worship, but to Jesus. If the heart and our treasure are really connected, maybe a good question is are they in the right place? Has something or someone gotten between you and the one who died for you? Maybe you’ve never accepted Jesus as Lord and savior – we invite you to come as we stand and sing.
