The Greatest Blessing
James 1:9-12
August 20, 2006
Evening Service
Introduction
A group of girls on a picnic in Washington State’s Cascade Range had taken a wrong trail. After spending a terrifying night in the high country, they were wandering hopelessly-cold, wet, and hungry, and convinced they would never be found. Some of the girls began crying, certain they were all going to die. Eleven-year-old Evanell Towne stepped forward and said, "I’m not going to die." She remembered being told that if you follow a little stream, it empties into a bigger stream and finally you come to a town. She led the girls back to a stream they had seen earlier, and they followed it for more than five hours, until they finally began to hear voices. The girls began shouting and the rescue team was able to locate them. Clear-headed thinking will get us through life’s most difficult circumstances
Circumstances can cause us difficulty in life. Even when we live upright lives, bad things still happen. Circumstances do not have to control our lives and our service for God. We need to allow God to do His work even in the midst of our difficulties.
Circumstances are beyond the control of man, but his conduct is in his own power. -Benjamin Disraeli
The reality is that seldom do we choose the circumstances that we are dealt. Seldom do we have full control over the circumstances that come to us in life. The only thing that you can always control about the circumstances of life is your response to them. You may not choose the situation but you do choose your response. The reaction that we choose when faced with hardships, reveals our character. It also reveals Christ’s work within us.
It’s not the situation . . . It’s your reaction to the situation. -Bob Comblin
9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:9-12
I. Financial Hardships and Adversity
James continues his discourse on trials here in verse 9. The discussion takes a different turn into the realm of material hardships and difficulties. The issue of possessions takes center stage in the issue of hardships. Economic hardships are sometimes not of our own making.
A leading economic expert, Professor Irving Fisher of Yale, had this to say about the bright future of the stock market and the American economy: "Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." (Spoken in early October 1929 just a couple of weeks before the stock market crash that caused the Great Depression.)
As James wrote this letter the Christians were viewed as a dangerous sect and it cost them financially. The reality is that the early Christians were making great financial sacrifice and not in the manner of tithes and offerings. Many believers were suffering from financial hardship for two main reasons
1.) The displacement of believers
Remember that James is writing to the church after they had been displaced. The church had endured a great deal of persecution from the Jews. Many Christians were forced into exile across the region. The displacement would have caused serious economic losses. These believers had lost a great deal.
What would happen to you and your family if you were suddenly forced to flee your home or die?
2.) The Jewish court systems
The Jewish court system allowed and even encouraged the seizing of property belonging to Christians. The courts allowed Jews to sue Christians and take all that they owned. The believers were suffering financially because of persecution. What would happen to you and your family if someone could take all that you owned?
Prosperity discovers vice but adversity discovers virtue – Francis Bacon
When James speaks of position it is in relation to our place with Christ. We are children of the most high, God. James says that those in humble circumstances are exalted and those in wealthy circumstances are humbled. What is he talking about here?
James is giving priority to a believer’s position in Christ. The most valued part of a believer’s life is their place with Christ. There is no concern about wealth because in the end everyone is equal. Those who are in need will be supplied by God and those who are in excess trust in god not to lose everything.
Many times our greatest problem is that we have a wrong view of financial blessings. Christians often take an unbiblical view of prosperity.
1.) Status – We become identified with or by the things that we have. Our identity as Christians has absolutely nothing to do with what we possess. Our identity flows from our relationship with Christ.
2.) Support – We often believe that our support flows out of our financial means. There is far more supporting your life than just your things. The more you rely on things to strengthen you, the weaker you become.
3.) Security – We look at our possessions and see them as a security. They are something that we can count on. Life is anything but secure. All of those things that you count on could be stripped away from you in a mere moment. Would your life fall apart if you lost all of your possessions? As Christians, our security flows from the hand of God, not from this world.
4.) Success – We often see possessions and wealth as the trappings of success. Instead, they are the trap of false success. Success has little to do with what you have but is more about who you really are. Success flows out of knowing Christ and living for Him.
The value of wealth is shown by James clearly in verse 11.
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business
When life is seen through the eyes of Christ’s Kingdom; wealth is truly seen for what it is – worthless. Wealth has something totally different in the economy of God. Have you ever wondered why heaven has streets of gold? It is not because gold is worth so much but to show its relative worth in the scheme of eternity. Gold, the basis for our money, will be used like pavement. Gold has the same value as asphalt in the eyes of God.
Wealth has little value in the scheme of life. How many of the Hollywood stars are leading miserable lives? How many wealthy people deal with issues of addiction and other abuses that flow from wealth?
Wealth does not protect a person from the hardships of life. It does not protect from disease. It does not protect from depression. It does not protect from despair. It does not protect a person from death. As believers our life is not connected with the material things. We are far more important than any possession that we might own.
II. Perseverance Counts in Christ’s eyes
Two frogs fell into a can of cream -- or so I’ve heard it told The sides of the can were shiny and steep, The cream was deep and cold, "Oh, what’s the use?" said No. 1, "tis fate -- no help’s around -- Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye, sad world!" And weep still, he drowned. But No. 2 of sterner stuff, dog paddled in surprise, The while he wiped his creamy face and dried his creamy eyes. "I’ll swim awhile, at least," he said -- or so it has been said -- "It wouldn’t really help the world if one more frog was dead." An hour or two he kicked and swam -- not once he stopped to mutter, But kicked and swam, and swam and kicked, then hopped out, via butter.
James puts all of his teachings on trials into one clear perspective. Look again with me at verse 12.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
The word here that is used for blessed literally means happy. It is the same word used in the beatitudes of Jesus. Being blessed means we can live carefree lives. With Jesus on your side, what is there to worry about? Being blessed means that we know the God is good. Being blessed means that we have a hope in Jesus.
Our blessing is a joy that the world can never take from us. It is joy that resides in the depths of your heart. Joy is a matter of choice. You can choose to be miserable in life or you can choose to face the challenges of life with joy. Our joy flows from a personal connection with the savior of the world. Nothing can ever take that away from you.
The happiness of believers flows out of faithfully following Jesus. This is through the good and the bad. Our life is not connected to wealth and the things of this world but instead we are connected to Jesus.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
The reward for standing the test of life is gaining the crown of life. A crown was the prize for winning the race in the Greek games. This type of crown was an olive wreath that would have faded and withered quickly. It was a momentary glory. The crown of life is an eternal one. It will last through all the ages.
The crown of life is a reward for faithfully following Jesus through the hardships of life. It is the greatest blessing we will ever receive.
Conclusion
Sunday morning, May 5, preached in St. Ann’s, was asked not to come back anymore.
Sunday p.m., May 5, preached at St. John’s, deacons said, "Get out and stay out."
Sunday a.m., May 12, preached at St. Jude’s, can’t go back there either.
Sunday p.m., May 12, preached at St. George’s, kicked out again.
Sunday a.m., May 19, preached at St. somebody else’s, deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return.
Sunday p.m., May 19, preached on the street, kicked off the street.
Sunday a.m., May 26, preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as a bull was turned loose during the services.
Sunday a.m., June 2, preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway.
Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service, preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me.
Who was this persistent man? No other than John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement
We must make the choice to persist through all circumstances, so we can be the kind of people Jesus wants us to be. We must persist through the difficult times of life to discover the rewards that Jesus has waiting for us. The greatest blessing of God flows into lives that stay the course, stay in the race and cross the finish line.
