JAMES 1:9-11
THE TESTS OF POVERTY AND PROSPERITY
[Luke 16: 20-31]
Tests are common to life. James having discussed the testings of faith (2-4) and the resources needed to meet them (5-8) now introduces two of the most common examples of testing: the test of poverty (1:9) and the test of prosperity (1:10-11). So He moves from the general discussion of trials (1:2-8) to specific tests that require the use of divine resources to properly understand, evaluate & overcome.
These specific examples point out the truth that trials of faith are of two general types: the painful and the pleasant. The passage teaches that both rich and poor Christians face trials. The poor man is not to be depressed by his poverty but see it as an opportunity to prove God’s faithfulness. The rich man is not to delight in his worldly possessions but to rejoice in the opportunity to prove their inferiority to true riches. But whatever earthy circumstances in which we live, it is temporary. As Christian we need to live for what is eternal (CIM).
I. THE TEST OF POVERTY, 1:9.
II. THE TEST OF PROSPERITY, 1:10-11.
First, James addresses the Christian brother in difficult economic situations in verse 9. But the brother, the poor one, must glory in his high position.
Some Christian brethren find themselves in lowly circumstances. The word lowly ( ) suggest one who is poor, oppressed, humbled and seemingly of unimportant earthly status. Early church records show many of its members were from the lowest economic levels of society. The burial inscriptions in the catacombs at Rome reveal a huge number of slaves who embraced Christianity. Christ became their hope in their dismal situation. The Bible exhorts such persons to glory, to rise above their outward poverty and the depression so often associated with it by rejoicing at God’s spiritual bounty in their lives and in their eternal riches.
When one becomes a Christian they become a heir of God and a joint heir with Christ (Eph. 2:19). They receive not only eternal life but have open for them the way of grace that gives peace, joy, hope, faith, love, contentment, etc.. They must overcome the temptation to resentment, envy, and depression. Since their happiness can come out of their economic situation, they must leave the brooding of their financial oppression and glory in their true riches. They are new creatures in Jesus Christ, bearers of the divine image, partakers of the divine nature with the inexhaustible treasures of God at their call. These provisions are adequate for every possible want and contingency. And though they may possess little or nothing of earth’s honor or treasures, they have a high position and riches that all of earth’s treasures can not compare with in eternity. Well may the poor man rejoice and find glory to rise above what earth’s privations tell him he is worth.
II. THE TEST OF PROSPERITY (10-11).
James now turns his attention to the rich man who faces the temptation of trusting in wealth. "And the rich man in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away."
James presents us with the case of a Christian who possesses earthly wealth. The rich man needs to realize that his condition is one of humiliation ( ) or dishonor instead of exaltation. This is just opposite to what the world thinks. Christianity gives life and life’s attainments an overwhelming alteration in our world view or view of life.
Money and social status can create real problems in attaining true spiritual riches. The rich man has to busy himself with maintaining and looking after the life that his wealth and station require of him. Temporal wealth demands his attention instead of the real eternal riches. This world’s glory is perishable but the rich man must dedicate more of his time to looking after these earthy interests instead of nurturing the spiritual riches which are eternal.
The rich man also does not need to depend upon God for the daily necessities of life. He is not pressed to seek his daily bread from God and constantly reminded to thank Him for it. Physical life can be pleasant and enjoyment can be found in the worldly things his wealth provides instead of in the joy of the Lord. He is tempted to trust in his wealth, instead of learning to trust God day by day in his circumstances. So the test of prosperity is that riches make a person significant and accepted in the world’s eyes. The wealthy person is tempted to be satisfied with this acceptance and not be moved to find acceptance and significance through his relationship with Christ.
The reason given for the wealthy man’s humiliation is because he will pass away like flowering grass. Social prominence passes away and wealth withers away like a wild flower in the sun. As soon as it has displayed its beauty or glory it is gone. Earthy exaltation will fade. James reminds the rich person that life is brief and uncertain and encourages him or her to maintain a humble attitude in spite of plenty.
Verse 11 teaches the rich to recognize that wealth is a challenge to be overcome (1 Tim. 6:9). For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
This statement about the brevity of life applies to all (the allusion comes from Isaiah 40:6f) but within the context of James it is strikingly applied to the wealthy. Money tends to produce a false sense of security and the rich therefore especially need to be reminded of the uncertainty of life.
A vivid illustration of the sudden reversal of fortunes for the worldly rich people is the burning east wind from the Syrian desert. At first light, the emerald grass and delicate wildflower embrace the morning dew. Yet by midday, the blasting of the desert wind has consumed all in its path leaving only parched ground. The flower of the morning finds its beauty short lived. No one ever has seen a hearse with a U-Haul trailer behind it. Much of people’s efforts to secure life financially is like fighting for who gets the finest state room on the Titanic. Or as one familiar statement says, shrouds have no pockets.
The last part of verse 11 applies the illustration to those who are wealthy only in this world’s goods. In his ways is a general reference to the course of life. Literally it is in his journeying or in his goings. The rich man and his wealth are separated at death. A poor Christian was spoken about by a wealthy unbeliever who was very sick remarked, "when I die, I shall leave my riches, when he dies he will go to his."
BLACK MONDAY, the day in October 1987 when the American stock market fell more than 500 points, hit investors hard. That crash and the more recent one, made a lot of people reassess their relationship to money. The wise were again reminded that money is a transient and disappointing god.
James said the rich person will wither as grass in the burning heat. He was no doubt referring to the strong, hot, dry wind from the south that would pass through Palestine. It would wither a field of bright flowers in a few hours. So too, the life of a rich man is but a brief moment in time. His life and his riches are soon gone–and with them an unfounded faith.
No matter how long a person may live or how rich he may be, money cannot bring him HAPPINESS. In his book For Better or For Worse, Walter Maier included this story: "A rich man had committed suicide. In his pockets were found two items: $30,000 in cash and a letter. The letter read in part: ‘I have discovered during my life that piles of money do not bring happiness. I am taking my life because I can no longer stand the solitude and boredom. When I was an ordinary workman in New York, I was happy. Now that I possess millions, I am infinitely sad and prefer death.’"
Also consider the famous, popular, and rich singing idols, the Rolling Stones. They sang "I Can’t Get No Satisfaction" despite all the pleasure that money and fame provided.
Let us learn the lesson of the Scriptures. May we resist the temptation to put our trust in our wealth. Hold lightly to the things of earth but tightly to the joy & blessings of heaven. Let’s trust in the eternal, everlasting God.
The riches of this world are vain,
They vanish in a day;
But sweet the treasures of God’s love–
They never pass away.
CONCLUSION
The poor Christian may find his lowly circumstances a sore trial, but let him not be depressed in it. On the contrary, let him think upon his lofty spiritual privileges and glory in the fact that he is rich in the things that really matter. The rich man, on the other hand, must recognize that his wealth can be a trial. He therefore, recognizing the vanity of wealth and the uncertainty of all things earthly, must glory in the spiritual realities that have opened up to him in the Lord.
We find true wealth by developing our spiritual life, not by developing our financial assets. To be rich in God is eternally better than being rich in goods. God is interested in what is lasting not in what is temporary. James is saying remember that you will live in eternity forever so be glad that by humbling yourself and open the door that finds the treasure of eternity.
