TOPIC: TAKING PRIDE BY BEING HUMBLED
(2nd of a Series in the Book of James – A Life That Makes a Difference Series)
Text: James 1:9-11
vv. 9-11, “9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation (as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God), 10 and the rich (person ought to glory) in being humbled (by being shown his human frailty), because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits. (Amplified) (Isaiah 40:6-7)
Introduction:
(ILL. Last June 12 we celebrate our Day of Independence and I like what ABS-CBN did, when they urge every Filipino to put Philippine flag and I like their promotion in TV where every people in every walk of life; children, youth, adult, student, working, housewife, indigenous people, rich, poor, etc., stand still and place their hand at their heart to show respect, honor and most specially to take pride as Filipino.)
Hope you are taking pride as Filipino whatever your situations and conditions and circumstances in life, simply because you belong to Filipino race. This is what James in chapter 1 verses 9-11 is urging as to do as part of God’s Kingdom, as part of God’s family. (Read – James 1:9-11)
From these verses we can see Christian principles that God desires to see to each one of us as part of His family, as part of God’s Kingdom when we take pride as part of it. That is why here in James 1:9 we are urging to take pride when God humbled us either in our circumstances or our position and condition, and we can see why? Because it will give us:
1. Right JUDGEMENT in life
(ILL. Video – Car & Power-Point – the Art of Fooling Men). We have an idiom that goes like this, “Natanso ako!” Satan is very good in the art of fooling people, even Christians and that is what happen in the Garden of Eden, but even so just as what happen to the first man, the choice is ours it is either our judgment is base on the Truth from God’s word or base on what we know, what other said, or what the world view is. The word here, “to take pride” also means “to rejoice”, to rejoice whatever situation and condition you have and you are in, as long it is God’s will and purpose. This is the problem with many people, even Christians that we rejoice if everything is okay, or if we are wealthy and have a lot of material possessions, our judgment is base on what we have or what we don’t have. I like what James used here, he didn’t use the word “poor” instead he used the phrase, “in humble circumstances”. Because there is no poor in God’s family, because as Christian we called to the true riches and to be an heir of God. Because as I mentioned always that riches or prosperity is not just having a lot of money or possessions because if that is the case then why there is a lot of wealthy people all over the world who kill themselves? But it doesn’t mean that riches are wrong, NO! I believe that God want also to bless us materially, that there were also time where God will place us in position where we are materially abundant but the point here is our judgment when we are in both position or the moment we are in this position. That is why James used the phrase, “in humble circumstances” is because we are in momentarily in a situation where God wants us to rejoice not because of what we acquire but because of what we are in God, we are His children, and we are co-heir with Jesus. Matthew 23:12, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” And this also the reminder of James to rich brethren that they too should “take pride” on their low position or being humbled before God. And James explain it by mentioning an allegory, using the flowers of grass that riches is like that its like a beautiful flower and yet it easily disappear, it dies, he explain here the frailty of human body. Isaiah 40:6-8, “6 All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Our judgment affects our relationships with God, with others and with ourselves. There is a principles here that, whatever circumstances, position God place is a blessings to us, but to come out from God’s plan & purpose because of wrong judgment to what we are in is a curse, and the one who brings curse is us. We can see that in the life of Adam and Eve, God’s created Eden for them and yet they try their own way because of wrong judgment about God, about themselves so instead of coming back to God they choose to do it their way so God drive them out where the land is curse, they can choose to correct their wrong judgment about God, that God can forgive them but they choose not. So it’s our choice, the only place and position that is safe is the positioned created by God for us even if you don’t understand it. Remember this: “God doesn’t need you, you need Him. God can do anything without you, but you cannot do anything without God.” That is why James urge us “to take pride” “to rejoice” because it give us right judgment in life. Right judgment leads to:
2. Right PRIORITIES & FOCUS in life
If we try to see things on our own perspective then for sure we also get wrong priority and focus in life. If we have a wrong judgment about our “humble circumstances” or “our riches” the for sure it will give us wrong focus and priorities in life. We will start to love the things of this world and anything that goes with it such as time, our energy, our strength, etc., rather than God, His plan and purpose in our life and also His people. Mat 6:24, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” We begin serving mammon rather serving God. We get into wrong priorities in our life. We start to hoard wealth rather than using it for God’s kingdom. The Scripture said, Matt. 6:33, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” When our focus and priorities goes to the things of this world what will happen? 2Ti 4:10, “for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.” That is why Paul reminded the brethren in Colossians 3:1-2, “Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” If you have the right focus & priorities because you take pride of whatever position you are in then it will lead you to:
3. Right VALUES in life
Here we can see that if you take pride of whatever your circumstances is, either you are in “humble circumstances” or “rich one” then it will lead you to having a right value in your life. As what Colossians 3:1-2 to “set your hearts on things above and set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This also what James is pointing here that we should have a Kingdom values, not an earthly values for we are not of this world even though we are still in this world but through Kingdom values then we are able to bring God’s kingdom in our midst and to the people around us. Again what James when he wrote this letter is for us to make difference in this very different world, and our values in life is very important to show. Many times we get our values to our favorite stars, our favorite player, our favorite writer, etc. But just a word of caution: even how good this world say or do but if its against the principles and values of God then still its not Kingdom values but wordly. So beware, hindi porke ginagawa ng marami ay okay na (ILL. Mananampalatayang may kabit dahil siya na lang ang wala sa opisina. O kaya ay estudyanteng nag-cheat dahil lahat ay gumagawa na at karaniwan na daw, o kaya ay nagboyfriend o girlfriend ng di mamanampalataya dahil walang manligaw na mananampalataya, etc). Kahit gaano kaganda sa tiingin natin pero kung hindi iyon ang sinasabi ng Salita ng Dios still it is world values. In order for us to get God’s values we need to read, study, apply it in our life. We should take pride on what God is doing or saying to us in order for us to have right values. Now if we have right values because we take pride on what God positioned us then it will lead us to:
4. Right ATTITUDE in life
Here in James 1:9 says, “...take pride.” In other translations it says “rejoice” “glory”, it speaks about the right attitude of our hearts towards God, one another and attitude to yourself, that you should take pride to what circumstances God place you in whether you are poor or rich. Because you God gave you a right attitude for both circumstances. Matthew said, “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” Not the money but our attitude towards money, towards wealth, towards things of this world. And this affects our attitude towards God, towards our brethren, ourselves and other people. Kingdom mentality is like what I said earlier about the celebration of our Independence day that whoever you are, whatever your situation is you take pride because you are part of Filipino (ILL. Mount Everest Team, Pacquio – The joy the victory is not just for them but for all of us) same thing in God’s kingdom we share the joy, the victory because we are part of one family, we can share everything. Paul gives us the right attitude as part of God’s Kingdom in I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.” And this truth will lead us to building God’s Kingdom that glorifies no one else but GOD!
Conclusion:
How do we see things, how do we see others, how do we see ourselves? Do we see it in God’s perspective or man or this world perspective?
The key for your situation, your conditions, the blessings, and the exaltation is us: our judgment, our priorities/focus, our values and our attitude. The key is you!
