Are you rich or poor?

James 1:2-12

Are you rich or poor?

In most communities in the world, there are wealthy congregations and poorer congregations. It is not normal to have a wide range of incomes in the same church. But we are an exceptional church in many ways and one of these is that in our diversity, there is a wide range of incomes. Some of us own cars and drive to church while others save the 4.5 dirhams it costs to ride the bus and walk to church.

The followers of Jesus James wrote to in this letter were meeting in synagogues that had this kind of economic diversity. This created difficulties that make the relationship of rich and poor a major theme in James’ letter. These verses in chapter 1 are the first mention of this theme.
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

What book of the Bible do you think of when you read these verses? Ecclesiastes? Psalms? Proverbs? These books of the Bible are part of what is called Wisdom literature and James comes closest to this genre than any other book of the New Testament.

So we can appreciate this text by itself and learn from it, as we do from Isaiah 40:6–8
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

Or Psalm 49:16–17
16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.

There is wisdom in these verses of the Bible. The world and all its wealth is fading away and to lust for it or to hold on to it is to make a big mistake. But why did James put these verses in a section of his letter that is talking about persevering with joy when trials come?

Remember, always remember, when you read James, who the letter is addressed to: (James 1:1)
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.

The Jewish followers of Jesus living in Jerusalem and the surrounding area were forced, because of persecution, to leave and settle in Syria and northern Palestine where they were strangers in a new community. They had to start over to find ways to make a living and so faced tough financial situations. They left behind the social network they were used to and had to establish a new network of friends. They went to the local synagogue and had to explain that they had discovered Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, which may well have created tension with the synagogue leaders. Their disruption of the status quo, the way things had always been, may have caused them to be unwanted and rejected.

This rejection and financial difficulty are some of the trials James had in mind as he wrote this letter, so if we want to understand these verses that carry the same theme as Isaiah 40 and Psalm 49, we need to look at the whole of verses 2-12 in the first chapter of James’ letter.

So let’s summarize the teaching of James thus far. He begins by telling these dispersed Jewish followers of Jesus to consider it joy when trials come. Why? Because they produce perseverance which leads to the development of a deeper faith. This faith that results from perseverance is so precious that the pain of the trial is considered worth enduring.

But then in order to persevere well, wisdom is needed. If wisdom is not present, then the perseverance can be characterized by whining and complaining, by fighting and depression.

Wisdom is a recognition of who God is and knowing our place before him. Wisdom believes that suffering will lead to something better, that there is meaning in the suffering. Wisdom understands that our goal is not an earthly paradise but a heavenly one. Wisdom knows that we are passing through this world as we prepare for our real home.

Perseverance without wisdom is a path that leads to death. Perseverance with wisdom is a path that leads to life.

James then adds one more qualifier to perseverance. He writes that as we persevere with wisdom, we need to make sure we are not double-minded. If we are going to grow in faith, we will have to be clear about our goal and be single-minded in our pursuit of Jesus.

James relies more on the teaching of Jesus, in particular the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel according to Matthew, than any other New Testament writer. And at this point he is clearly referencing Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

In our perseverance, this is where most of us get stuck. This is where I get stuck. We are torn between our longing for God and our desire to hold on to the rewards of the world.

I ended the sermon last week with two questions Dallas Willard suggested to John Ortberg as a diagnostic test for our spiritual life. Are we single-minded in our pursuit of God or are we double-minded, trying to serve God and money?

Here are the two questions:
Am I growing more easily discouraged these days?
Am I growing more easily irritated these days?

And when I answer these two questions, I realize that I really am double-minded. I have a very strong longing to serve God, to have a more intimate relationship with God. I want to have an experience of his love and his peace. But I find it so difficult to let go of my attachment to the things of this world. I want my comfort. I want my vacations. I want my retirement home in the woods.

I don’t think I am unique in this. This has been the struggle of followers of Jesus over the centuries. Paul wrote in Romans 7:15
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
I think he was struggling with the same issue that we do. As much as Paul was pursuing God with all his heart, soul and mind, his flesh still wanted to be satisfied with the things the world offers.

The world offers money, possessions, approval, power, fame and we want it. We find it so difficult to let go of these things – which makes us double-minded.

This is why I think James follows in his teaching with these comments about the temporary nature of the wealth of the world. Because wealth, either having it or wanting to have it, is such a problem, it has to be dealt with if we are to persevere and grow in faith when trials come our way.

In this light, let’s take a look at what James is saying to us.
James 1:2–12
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
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 encourages the brother in humble circumstances to take pride in his high position. Who is the brother in humble circumstances? The brother in humble circumstances is one who has little significance in the world’s opinion. The world looks to the rich and powerful but God has an eye out for those the world ignores, takes for granted, uses and abuses. The Bible frequently mentions widows, orphans and aliens as these forgotten people. To this list we could add the handicapped, street children, house cleaners, parking guardians and servants.

When Mary went to see her cousin Elizabeth after becoming pregnant, she sang in her song of praise about the people of humble circumstances. (Luke 1:52)
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;

The brother or sister in humble circumstances is one who does not have the wealth of the world. The brother or sister in humble circumstances looks around and sees all the things others have that they do not have. They may not live in a nice apartment, may not have a lot of clothes, may have to struggle to find money to pay the rent each month. The brother or sister in humble circumstances may get taken advantage of by those with wealth who pay them very little to work very hard.

The brother or sister in humble circumstances receives the message day after day that they are not important, not of value. The brother or sister in humble circumstances is overlooked by the world and yet James writes that they should boast in their high position. The word James uses here for high position refers to the heavenly realm from which the Spirit descended and to which Jesus ascended. The brother or sister in humble circumstances boasts in their real home in heaven. They boast in being daughters and sons of God. Their situation on earth is only temporary and will soon pass away.

James’ point is that believers have to look past the world’s evaluation of themselves to see who they are. Believers need to look to God and see themselves through his eyes. Who we are is not evaluated by our bank accounts, the number of friends we have on Facebook or how large a truck is needed to help us move. Who we are is how God views us.

A few years ago, my friend Uchenna experienced the racism many Africans face from Moroccans. He got on the bus and sat down next to a Moroccan man. The man looked at him with disgust, got up and sat down in another seat.

How do you handle such an insulting situation. This Moroccan did not like his skin color, his smell, his facial features. This is a highly personal, offensive, degrading insult and yet as Uchenna told me about his experience, this is what he said. “I smiled because I realized that if this man knew what I had to offer him, he would have gotten on his knees and begged me to share words of life with him.”

James says:
Let the brother in humble circumstances boast in his high position,

Uchenna’s identity was not wrapped up in what this man or in what any other man thought of him. Uchenna’s identity was in his relationship with Jesus. He knew he was a child of God, on his way to the kingdom. This is what allowed him to handle the insult with grace.

Let your relationship with God define who you are, not what the world thinks of you or how the world assesses you. The world may say you are inferior and dispensable, but God thinks you are worth enough to die for. God thinks you are worth sacrificing for so you can come into his kingdom. God loves you and thinks you are wonderful and calls you his daughter or son. You have great worth in his eyes.

James continues:
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.

How do the rich take pride? How do they boast? The rich don’t need to boast, their possessions do it for them. The cars they drive, the clothes they wear, the vacations they take, the jewelry they wear, the home they live in: these all tell the world and themselves how rich they are.

We want to be rich. We want the things the rich have. We want the power being rich brings. But do you realize that it is much more difficult for the rich to be followers of Jesus than the poor?

Does this sound odd to you? Why is it Jesus spent so much time warning about the dangers of money and possessions? He talked more about money and possessions than he did about heaven, prayer, faith or hell.

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus and wanted to follow him, Jesus told him to sell all he had, give it to the poor and then come follow him. When the ruler went away sad because he was not able to do this, Jesus told his disciples: (Matthew 19:23–25)
“Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

We want to be wealthy but few people realize the danger that comes with wealth.

Let me explain why it is a spiritual advantage to be poor.

A few years ago there was a man in our church named Anthony who was from India. He worked here repairing automobiles for the Sheik of Abu Dhabi and went home once a year to see his wife and son. One day Anthony received word that his wife and son were being threatened by other members of his family and might lose the house they lived in. Anthony wanted to fly home and deal with the situation but his boss would not give him his passport and he had to stay in Rabat. There was nothing to do but pray and so a few of us met with Anthony and asked God to do what we could not do ourselves.

We prayed for the protection of his family and their home and in a week or so Anthony received word that the family had given up their attempts to take over the house.

Anthony had a sweet, deep faith that was the result of having to trust God for many things in his life. If I had been in his situation, I would have gone straight to the airport, paid for a ticket and flown home to deal with the emergency. I would have hired a lawyer or whatever was needed to be done to protect my interests. At the end I would have resolved the problem, just as Anthony’s problem was resolved. The difference is that Anthony’s faith grew and my faith would not have grown.

The difficulty of having money is that you begin to trust in what you can do with your resources rather than trust in God.

When Annie and I were first married, we were in a church that had a very wealthy family. One  Friday the teenage son in the family had an accident and totaled the car he was driving. The next day his parents went to the car dealer and bought a new car with cash. We were stunned. It was amazing to us that someone could have that much money.

This is the problem the wealthy have: when does God have a chance to provide for them? When the poor have a need, they pray and pray and then when God provides, there is a celebration. When do the rich do this?

James says:
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.

The challenge for those with wealth is to realize that what they have and the bank account in which they place their trust will disappear and then what will they do? The rich need to turn from trusting in their wealth and realize they are on an even playing field with the poor. Both are headed for an end to this world and need to place their confidence in Jesus who will take them safely where no bank account can go. Holding on to their wealth will only slow them down.

We will come later in James to how the rich and poor are to relate to each other. Here James is telling us how the rich and poor are to relate to God.

The problem is that wealth has a hold on both rich and poor. The rich want to hold on to it and the poor want to get their hands on it.

If you are materially poor, you are rich in Christ and that is where you need to place your identity. If you are materially wealthy, you need to realize your wealth will slip though your hands like sand at the beach and you are in desperate need of Jesus. Both rich and poor need to put their identity in who they are in relationship to Jesus and turn from the world.

Jesus told a parable about being invited to a wedding feast. (Luke 14:7–11 )
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The poor know where to sit when they come into the room. They find a spot in the back, perhaps in the corner. The world has taught them they do not deserve any better. But the rich think they deserve to be at the head table with the bride and bridegroom. They are offended if they are not given a place of honor.

Jesus tells the rich to sit in the back. Identify with the poor. Reject what the world says you are and identify with your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Humble yourself and realize you are poor in spirit and desperately in need of being saved by Jesus, just like everyone else in the world.

And then there is wonderful news. Jesus will come and take you to a seat of honor. The poor will be led to the head table where they will be honored. The rich who have humbled themselves will be taken to the head table where they will be honored.

As for the rich who sat at the head table, thinking they deserved the honor, they will be taken away and sent out of the room.

Are you rich or poor? I hope you answer this question with more understanding than you did at the beginning of the sermon.

James finishes this section of his letter with the reward that awaits the rich man who sees his spiritual poverty and puts his trust in Jesus and the reward that awaits the poor man who looks past his material poverty and sees who he is in Christ.

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 crown of life is not a king or queen’s crown, it is the crown placed on the head of the triumphant victor in an athletic competition. The crown recognizes all the years of disciplined living and hard training. It recognizes the sacrifices that were made to be successful.

An Olympic athlete puts everything else aside and focuses on training for four years and the image in the front of their mind is that moment of triumph, standing on the medal stand and having a gold medal draped around their neck. And in that moment, all the hard work that it took to get there is worth it.

This is why we consider it joy when trials come. This is why we persevere. This is why we seek wisdom and focus single-mindedly on Jesus. This is why we reject what the world tells us about who we are and focus on how God sees us.

If you are currently going through a trial of some kind or when you face a trial in the future, I cannot promise that it is or will be easy. Trials are painful. They hurt. They can shake your faith to its core. But if you can hold on to the teaching of James and see that moment when you will come face-to-face with Jesus and hear him say to you, “Welcome good and faithful servant,” you can hold on and persevere with wisdom and single-mindedness.

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Jeremiah 9:23–24
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”