How To Have A Humble Spirit
James 1:9-11
Preached by Pastor Tony Miano
Pico Canyon Community Church
November 26, 2000
Introduction: This morning we’re going to continue in our study of the Book of James. We’re going to look at James 1:9-11 and consider how we can have a humble spirit. We’re going to consider what a humble spirit looks like in the midst of trials and when things seem to be going well.
Over the last few weeks, we have looked at how to develop a Christ-like attitude as we forge through the day-to-day trials of life. In James 1:2-4, we talked about the need for a genuine, enduring faith in order to experience pure joy in the midst of trials. Last week, as we studied verses 5-8, we looked at how we can recognize our need for wisdom, request the wisdom we need, and receive the gift of wisdom that will help us navigate through the trials of life.
If we take only a cursory look at verses 9-11 in chapter one, it would appear that James has ended his discussion about getting through trials and is beginning something new. But he’s not.
James continues his thought, which began in verse two. The only real change in the passage we’re going to look at this morning, when compared to what we’ve studied so far, is the literary style. James writes this passage in such a way that it closely resembles a parable. Something that makes James’ writing so practical is his use of illustrations to emphasize the points he is trying to make.
James chose two topics, topics important to his original audience and no less important to us in today’s church, to make this portion of his letter practical to whoever would read it. The two issues he addresses here, and two issues that affect our level of humility, are poverty and wealth.
James takes the encouragement and instruction of verses 2-4 and applies it to a real life issue facing his readers. One of the trials facing James’ Jewish Christian readers was poverty. After warning his brothers and sisters in verses 5-8 about the real potential for having a mind divided between God and the world, James will drive his point home in our passage for today by dealing with the one thing that can quickly and very subtly divide our minds, divide our souls—wealth.
Like James, we’re going to tackle these issues head on this morning. We’re also going to take some brief looks along the way at how portions of the Christian community are distorting the purpose for wealth and want in our lives. But before we begin, let’s pray.
Interpretive Issue: Let’s read verse 9-11. Before we consider the points James is making in this passage, there is an important decision we need to make about the text. Who is James talking about when he mentions “the brother of humble circumstances” and “the rich man”? Most scholars agree, and it seems obvious to me, that when James’ refers to the “brother of humble circumstances” he is referring to Christians.
James uses the word “brother,” again, to describe whom he is writing to. Since we can establish a connection between today’s passage and verses 2-4, we can say with confidence that some of the people he refers to as fellow Christians in verse two are the same individuals he is talking about in verse nine.
The greater challenge lies in determining what group “the rich man” mentioned in verses ten and eleven belongs to. Is he a fellow believer who has been blessed with monetary wealth, or is he simply a rich non-Christian? In my own study of this passage I’ve found that theologians are split 50/50 on this issue. Both sides make compelling and legitimate arguments for their particular point of view.
I’ve said this before and you will hear me say it again from time to time. God has given us His Word. He is not a God of confusion. His Word has but one meaning. It was not given to us so that we can interpret it in such a way that we could make it conveniently fit our own preferences and prejudices. The challenge for me, and for any serious student of God’s Word, is to discover that one meaning God has attached to a given verse or passage.
Now, the basis for the central truths of the Christian faith does not rise and fall upon the interpretation of who “the rich man” is in our passage for this morning. Our decision here will not affect our salvation. Nor will we lead someone astray if we encourage them to stand on either side of the fence, on this issue.
However, unless we are willing to approach the seemingly smaller issues contained in Scripture with integrity and a determination to know the truth, when it comes time to make a decision about other essential issues, the understanding of which could determine whether or not a person really has an authentic relationship with Christ, we will probably lack the determination to wrestle with the text to find its true meaning. We also run the risk leading others astray. We run the risk of coming down on the wrong side of the fence or convincing ourselves that the issue isn’t that important.
Okay. So, what decision am I going to make? And let me encourage each of you to not take my point of view as the final say. Go. Dig deep for yourselves. One of our goals in studying God’s Word is not to simply acquire more information, but to know God’s Word to such an extent that we can speak about it with confidence—to know God’s Word to such an extent that we can defend it against anyone who would seek to make it any less than infallible, any less than inerrant.
As we look at these verses today, you will see why I’m so passionate about this issue. You will see why this is so important to me when we look at interpretations that others try to force on Scripture to fit their self-indulgent teachings on wealth and the Christian.
All right—back to the issue at hand. Is the rich man a Christian or not? I believe James is talking about believers who were financially secure and had yet to experience poverty as a result of their faith in Christ. Here’s why. James’ words, at least in this portion of his letter, are words of exhortation and instruction. His tone, to this point is that of an older brother lovingly instructing his younger siblings. To make the rich man a non-Christian would change the tone of the passage from mild to harsh in midstream. This is a minor point and I wouldn’t put all of my eggs into this basket.
More to the point is the fact that verse ten is clearly a continuation of verse nine. The word “and” at the beginning of verse ten can also be translated as the phrase “on the other hand.” The connection between the two verses makes it reasonable to put the poor man and the rich man into the same group of people—Christians.
One of the arguments against the “rich man” being a Christian is the fact that our English translations identify the poor man as a “brother,” yet doesn’t attach the same identity to the rich person. However, when biblical Greek is translated into English the gender of a particular word will, in part, determine how a word or phrase is translated. In this case, the word “rich” is in the masculine form. But just because the word is masculine, doesn’t mean we have to attach the word man to it (“rich man”). The word can also be translated “rich one.” So we can legitimately read verses nine and ten this way. “But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; on the other hand, the rich one is to glory in his humiliation . . .”
With all that said, James is going to teach how important it is for Christians, whether rich or poor, to practice godly humility in their lives.
But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position . . . (1:9)
James first speaks of the Christian who is living in “humble circumstances.” A more literal translation from the Greek is “a brother, a lowly one.” This particular adjective is always used in a figurative sense in the New Testament. Although the word is occasionally used in the context of a person’s character, here James is speaking of the Christian who is in dire economic straits. This makes sense since James will make a contrast with the rich in the next two verses.
Something important to note here is that James includes the poor brother as an equal with every other Christian brother or sister. James’ wording shows that he makes no distinction, gives no rank, to the individual based on his or her economic status.
James was well aware of the fact that there were many believers who were struggling financially, who were living below the poverty line of the day. Remember that a significant number of people who came to Christ on the day of Pentecost were visiting Jerusalem from other towns, other regions. Many of them decided to stay in Jerusalem to join the apostles at the expense of their jobs, their homes, and their very livelihood. They were completely abandoned to Christ and with that commitment came the loss of financial security.
As far as James was concerned, there was no dishonor in being poor. He looked at every follower of Jesus Christ as a brother in the Lord. In fact, James recognized them as co-equals in Christ, regardless of their worldly status.
James uses a paradox to make his point. A paradox is a seemingly absurd proposition, yet true in fact. The Bible is full of paradoxes. The apostle Paul speaks of the death/life paradox throughout his letters. The idea of death resulting in life may seem absurd on its face, yet is absolutely true. Until a person dies to himself, dies to sin, they cannot have life in Christ. There are other paradoxes, like the slave who is free, the weak who is strong, or the first who is last.
In verse nine, the paradox is that the low-lying person should glory in their height. Well, what does James mean here? The NIV text translates the verb for glory as “to take pride in.” The Greek word is kauchaomai. It literally means, “to boast.” The word is not used here in the sense of some sort of vainglory. In the present context, it doesn’t carry with it the idea of smugness or an “I’m better than you” attitude. Since this verse is directly related to what James talks about in verse two, the boasting would be marked by an attitude of pure joy, not conceit.
Again, we see a paradox here. It makes no sense for James to call his readers to jump up and down for joy because of their low social-economic status. In fact, there are preachers today who have not been able to figure this out. There are preachers who are telling their congregations, and millions of people through television, that there can be no glory in poverty. Sadly they miss the point of James’ message.
James’ point is not that his fellow believers were to boast about how poor they were. He was not calling them to commit to a life of poverty. James was commanding his brothers and sisters to glory, boast, and take pride in their high position—their position in Christ.
The command is written in such a way that not only were his readers to boast in their hearts with an almost inexpressible level of joy; James’ readers were to constantly and indefinitely take a great deal of pride in their present and future position in Christ.
Yet, sadly, there are those, predominantly in what’s known as the “Word of Faith” movement, who are teaching their people that they ought not be boasting in their low position and focusing on their future glory in Christ. In their minds, to be content without economic wealth is akin to lacking faith.
Creflo Dollar, one of the many high profile prosperity teachers, pastors World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia, with a reported membership of over 20,000. The motto for his church is based on Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV). The church’s motto is “in all your getting, get understanding.”
On his ministry’s website, Dollar gives some pointers to help people determine if they have a spirit of poverty. A few of his tips include, “You justify your lack and make excuses. You are critical of those who teach and preach prosperity. [And] you are suspicious that those around you may take your money” (Dollar, www.worldchangers.org/wealth_t4.htm).
Dollar also gives some tips to help people determine if they have the spirit of prosperity. First of all, “you don’t settle for anything less than the best.” You also will support those who support prosperity” (Dollar, www.worldchangers.org/wealth_t5.htm).
Basically, Dollar is insinuating that if you challenge his teaching you have a spirit of poverty and if you give to ministries like his you have a spirit of prosperity.
One last quote from Mr. Dollar and we’ll move on. Dollar wrote, “You will walk in blessings, favor, prosperity, health and wealth, and you will do this without having to pursue wealth. First you must seek God’s method of operation and His righteousness. When you find out how to live your life according to the Word of God you will become a money magnet” (Dollar, www.worldchangers.org/wealth_t6.htm)
Oh, by the way, the verse Dollar quotes as his church’s motto may be taken just a little out of context. Conveniently, he sites only the second half of the verse. With the primary focus of his ministry being to promote wealth and amassing his own along the way, he seems to twist the verse to focus on the “getting.”
This is what the verse actually says. In fact, let’s make sure we are looking at the verse in its proper context. Let’s look at verses 5-7. “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”
It’s very clear that this passage has nothing to do with financial wealth. The only thing the father is telling his son in this passage to get is wisdom. Wealth is not the principal thing—wisdom is. Okay—enough about the false teachers. Let’s get back to one of the great teachers—James.
Wisdom is, indeed, the principal thing. And James was trying to impart as much of it to his readers as he possibly could. James wanted his readers to look beyond their poverty. And each of us should do the same.
There may be some of us here who are struggling financially. Whether it is a temporary situation or one that has been a hardship for quite some time, it is difficult to boast about anything when your finances are unstable. It’s difficult, at times, not to stare at the checkbook as if you’re waiting for numbers to magically appear.
James’ call to a forward looking or a future focus is not to say that we should sit idly by and not be good stewards with our finances. God wants us to be financially self-sufficient. He wants us to be good stewards with the financial resources he has given us so that we can not only support ourselves, but also support one another.
A sign of spiritual maturity is not how much we give, but whether or not we are giving in proportion to what we have received from God. Do we give cheerfully? Do we give of our first fruits, or do we begrudgingly give the leftovers? A sign of a healthy church is not how many innovative ways we can come up with to raise funds. A healthy church is one that does not constantly need to ask for people to give, because the people see giving as an act of worship and one of the biblical responsibilities for being a member of the body of Christ.
Even though we can find ourselves in humble circumstances, that is no guarantee that we will have an attitude of humility, a humble spirit. We can allow our circumstances to make it easy for us to justify, in our own minds, some misplaced anger toward God. We can allow what seems to be a below-average economic position to cause us to be judgmental toward those who have more.
We can also wrongly wear poverty as a badge of honor. We can assume that we are more spiritual than those who have material wealth because we think that we have less to corrupt our minds than those who are better off. Yes, there can be an arrogance in poverty just like there can be an arrogance in wealth.
As I studied for this morning’s message, I came to the realization that I had this attitude of arrogance growing up. You see my family lived on welfare from the time I was about 11 years old until I graduated from high school.
I grew up looking down on people who had money. It beat looking down on myself for not having any. I had an arrogant attitude about my poverty that convinced me that even though I didn’t have much, I was better than they were. I had integrity. I had my family. I had a strong work ethic.
The rest of them were just lazy—having everything handed to them on a silver platter. They were spoiled and shallow. I, on the other hand, was squared away. Where they had prizes, I had perspective. It’s amazing how you can fool yourself if you just try hard enough.
This kind of arrogant attitude toward poverty can lead to us convincing ourselves that we should hold on tight to what we have until God decides to show up and bless us with more. That arrogance will soon be stripped away, even in the midst of seemingly dire financial straits, if we boast in our position in Christ.
There is a supernatural purification of the mind when we focus with godly pride on who we are in Christ. It’s a purification that humbles us as we think beyond our struggles to see, with reverence and awe, the incredible gift God has given us in His Son.
The apostle John knew of this when he wrote his first letter to the churches in Asia. I John 3:1-3 says, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies Himself, just as He is pure.”
Our future hope should not only bring us an overwhelming amount of peace, regardless of the trials we are facing; but it should also humble us before the God who supplies all of our needs in Christ Jesus. If we find ourselves in humble circumstances, we should be vigilant to humble ourselves before the Lord of lords and King of Kings, being ever mindful of our present position and our future, glorious position in Him.
. . . and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 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. (1:10-11)
As I mentioned earlier, verse ten is a continuation of verse nine. Just as the poor man should boast in his spiritual riches, the rich man should boast in his humiliation. In verse ten, James lays out what the attitude of the financially secure believer should be, as well as the reason for the attitude.
Let’s first take a look at the right attitude. James says that the rich man is to glory, or boast, in his humiliation. The Greek word for “rich” carries with it the idea of a person who no longer has to work for a living. We live in an area where there is considerable wealth. I have found that those who are wealthy are the toughest to reach with the gospel. There are people very close to me, who live in our community, who fit into this category.
Jesus recognized this to be true. Turn to Matthew 19. We’re going to look at a story that is probably familiar to many of you. It illustrates what an incredible hold wealth can have on people. The best illustration of a biblical principle is a biblical illustration. Let’s read verses 16-26.
The rich, young ruler came to Jesus seeking eternal life. The young man had assessed himself and felt as though he had all of his ducks in a row and was in a position to receive the gift of eternal life. Yet, deep in his heart he realized that there was something he was lacking. There was something keeping him from giving his heart to Christ.
Jesus hits the nail on the head, going directly to the heart of the matter, when he suggests to the young man that he go and sell his considerable possessions and give the proceeds to the poor in his community. Look at how the young man reacted to Jesus’ words. The NIV says that he went away sad. The translation isn’t strong enough.
The NASB translation is a better rendering of the word. The young man went away grieving. He walked away, probably with his face in his hands, feeling the confrontation going on within his soul. He was a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, and he probably just realized it for the first time. He walked away realizing that although he thought of himself as good enough, as good enough because of all he possessed and his self-assessed feelings of righteousness, and as good enough to receive the gift of eternal life, he wasn’t good enough and he would never be good enough.
He went away grieved because he realized, as Pastor John MacArthur so aptly put it, that “the property he thought he owned really owned him, and he would rather be its servant than Jesus’ [servant]. . . Although he came to Jesus for eternal life, he left without it. He did not desire it above the possessions of his present life. He wanted to gain salvation, but not as much as he wanted to keep his property” (MacArthur, p. 194).
Like the rich, young ruler, rich Christians are susceptible to the same kind of pressure, the same kind of misplaced feelings about their success and wealth.
And yet, sadly, the teachers in the prosperity movement continue to lead people down the same primrose path of double-mindedness, of having a heart divided between what they have and who they really are in Christ, in order to line their own pockets. These teachers have already fallen prey to their own false teaching and are fulfilling their own lusts for more by taking others with them.
If you are here this morning and are a believer who has been blessed with financial security, with financial freedom and stability—praise God! May he continue to bless you and your family. May you, in turn, bless others with the resources he has given you. Jesus’ words in Matthew and James’ words in his letter are not denunciations of wealth. They are given to us to serve as words of caution so that we will not succumb to the temptations that subtly or overtly tag along with acquired wealth.
Okay. Let’s go back to verse ten. The Greek word for “humiliation” is directly related to the word translated “humble circumstances” in verse nine. Some of the persecuted Christians that James wrote to were people of considerable means. They were secure enough that they no longer had to go to work every day to support themselves and their family. Part of the persecution faced by these young Christians was the loss of financial wealth and security.
James’ teaching in verses ten and eleven is in direct contradiction to what the health, wealth, and prosperity teachers of today would have us believe. The false teachers in this movement look at wealth as a divine right. It’s something we deserve. In their mind, if you lack wealth, if you are not prosperous, than you must lack faith. Yet, this not the attitude James is calling for in our passage.
James realized that material wealth could be a hindrance to the spiritual growth of his readers. So he instructed them to boast in their humiliation. James is speaking figuratively here. Just as the poor believer was to be lifted up by his position in Christ, the rich believer should be lowered by his position in Christ. This brings us to the cross. This brings us to the great leveler of life’s playing field.
Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ.” You are all one in Christ. At the cross there is no distinction between those who come, on their knees, before the Lord.
If you are poor and you are at the foot of the cross, forget about your earthly poverty and see the Lord. Consider it all joy to be His. If you are rich and you are at the foot of the cross, forget about your earthly wealth and see the Lord. Consider it all joy to be His. If you are poor, look at your rich brother in Christ and see your equal. If you are rich, look at your poor brother in Christ and see your equal.
So why should the rich have this attitude? James gives us the answer in the second half of verse ten—because like flowering grass he will pass away. What James is saying here should serve as a reminder to each of us that wealth and prosperity—earthly possessions—are transitory at best. They are fleeting. We should not fix our hope, nor should we gauge our spirituality, on how many things we have.
Paul also recognized this and told Timothy how he should instruct rich believers. I Timothy 6:17-19 says, “instruct those who are rich in the present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
The fact that health, wealth, and prosperity are temporary is true for the poor believer as well as the rich believer. James probably realized that the poor believer already had grasped this idea since they were living without economic wealth. It’s easier to believe something won’t last forever when you don’t have it in the first place. On the other hand, James probably also recognized that it would be more difficult for rich believers to picture themselves without the wealth they believed God had blessed them with.
We have a tradition of sorts in our home, every year around Christmas. In an attempt to teach our girls the value of giving to others and not coveting the things we possess, and because we just need to make room in the closets for this year’s haul of stuff, Mahria and I have our girls go through all of their toys in the closet and decide what things they want to give away. They will either donate their toys to the church or we will take them to Goodwill.
No matter how much we preach the value of this tradition, it is met with hesitancy every year, especially with our six-year-old, Amanda. As we go through her toys, she sees things in the closet that probably haven’t been touched in six months or more. When I pull a toy out of the closet and ask her if she wants to keep it or give it away, she latches on to it as if it were her favorite toy, as if it were the doll she slept with every night. Suddenly, that which she cared little about becomes her most prized possession.
Rich believers are not immune to this feeling that they must hang on to whatever they have. After all, they worked hard, they maintained their integrity, they played by the rules, and this is the reward God has given them. They convince themselves that the latest adult toy they have been eyeballing for months has been put in front of them, not as a temptation, but as a reward for a job well done. After all, God wants to give us the desires of our hearts, right?
Well, you don’t have to be rich to run this kind of rationalization through your mind. I know I’ve done it. Just ask Mahria. The point is that James saw a need to stress his point more vigorously with the rich believer than he felt he needed to with the poor believer.
James uses the illustration of the flowering grass of the field in verses ten and eleven. No matter what we do to the field, no matter how much we nurture it, protect it, and cultivate it, plants in a field will eventually die. The flowers will lose their petals and their beauty will fade.
James is referring to Isaiah 40:6 in the Old Testament. Psalm 49:16-17 is even more straightforward about the issue at hand. “Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.” The idea that “you can’t take it with you” is a biblical one.
James ends the passage with the phrase so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. This is a reference to a rich man dying suddenly when everything seems to be going well. Just as scorching winds causes the beauty of the flower to fade, so too will his wealth and worldly status fade when he or she leaves this world to be with the Lord. Even the believer can have a tendency to chase after the things of this world. The rich believer should have a humble spirit that recognizes that the things of this world are temporary.
In order for each of us to have a humble spirit, whether we are rich or poor, we “must always evaluate [ourselves] by spiritual and not material standards” (Moo, p. 69). We need to recognize that poverty is not simply a result of a lack of faith, but a trial that God will allow and use to mature our faith, to produce an endurance that will reap eternal rewards. If we find ourselves in what seems like desperate financial straits, we should boast in the fact that at the cross we’re as rich as we ever could be.
We need to recognize, as believers, that wealth is not simply a result of an abundance of faith, but a gift from God that should not be squandered or used for self-promotion or conceit. If we find ourselves in what seems like a way of life in which every flower blooms and we’re on the side of the fence where the grass is already greener, we should boast in the fact that we recognize that the riches of the world are temporary, and at the cross we’re as rich as we ever could be.
Our humility is not to be worn as a martyr’s trophy. It shouldn’t be superficial as if we’re trying to apologize for the prosperity God gives us. Our humility, our humble spirit, whether we are rich or poor, should reflect the genuineness of our faith, the maturity of our faith, and the wisdom that our faith in Christ produces. Whether rich or poor, our humble spirit should lead us to one place—the cross of Christ.
Are you poor today? Are you rich? Purpose to have a humble spirit, regardless of the situation. Live life with an attitude marked by godly boasting in your position in Christ. Finally, I want to exhort you with the words of the apostle Peter. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (I Pet. 5:16-17).
