James 01:09-11 Trials of Poverty and Wealth – audio

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Text: James 1:9-11

Introduction

1. James has already discussed how we can turn trials into triumph, dealing with trials in general – James 1:2-8

2. In James 1:9-11, he discusses specifically the trials of being poor and being rich, and the attitudes we should have

3. In this lesson, we shall concentrate our attention on verses 9-11 and passages elsewhere which deal with the subject of poverty and wealth

4. Let’s begin by noticing that both wealth and poverty can be a problem

Body

I. THE TRIALS OF POVERTY AND WEALTH (Proverbs 30:8-9)

A. IN “POVERTY”, WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO CURSE GOD

1. Like Job’s wife wanted her husband to do, when they had lost everything – Job 2:9

2. And as many do today when things don’t go well

B. IN “WEALTH”, WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO FORGET GOD

1. As God warned Israel that it might happen to them – Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17

2. And as it did in fact happen to them – Hosea 13:5-6

II. THE REASONS FOR JOY IN POVERTY OR WEALTH (James 1:9-11)

A. IF WE ARE “POOR”, THEN WE CAN REJOICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN “EXALTED”!

1. God has chosen the “poor” to be rich in faith – James 2:5

a. It is the poor who first had the gospel preached to them – Luke 4:18

b. It is the poor slave who becomes Christ’s “freedman” – 1 Corinthians 7:21-22

2. So even if poor, we can still be “spiritually rich” and on equal par with all Christians – Revelation 2:8-9

B. IF WE ARE “RICH”, THEN WE CAN REJOICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN “HUMBLED”!

1. The rich are “humbled” by their:

a. Becoming Christ’s “slave” – 1 Corinthians 7:21-22

b. Being placed on an equal par with all Christians…in which riches mean nothing – Revelation 3:14-19

2. Why it is good that the rich be so “humbled”

a. Riches are temporary – James 1:10-11

b. Riches are unable to redeem our souls – Psalm 49:6-9, Psalm 49:13-20

c. The love of money is a quagmire and a source of self- inflicted injuries – 1 Timothy 6:9-10

3. In other words, it is good that in coming to Jesus Christ we find these things out

a. Or we might have made the same mistake many make today

b. Thinking that money provides true security (remember the rich fool? – Luke 12:13-21)

Conclusion

1. Even in the trials of poverty or wealth, there can be a cause for rejoicing!

2. For Jesus is “The Great Equalizer”

a. Exalting the poor who are rich in faith

b. Humbling the wealthy by basing their salvation not on wealth, but on that which cannot be bought: the blood of Jesus and the obedience of a humble and contrite spirit

3. Keeping these thoughts in mind will help us learn to be content in whatever financial conditions we may find ourselves; as Paul wrote:

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:11-13

4. The important question is not “How rich are you?” but “How rich IN FAITH are you?”