Devotional Thoughts | James Pt. 2

Rich and Poor

As we continue to look at the letter James wrote to the Early Church, let me remind you of the contextual setting as is recorded in the Book of Acts. Following the birth of the church there was a period of explosive growth with thousands coming to faith. The followers of Christ were still living and worshipping in Jerusalem. James, the author of this letter was the leader of the Jerusalem church. Following the stoning of Stephen, one of the first deacons of the church, and the first martyr, there arose persecution of the church resulting in many believers fleeing Jerusalem to the surrounding regions and nations. As the pastor of the Jerusalem church, James had a burden for those who fled the persecution and wrote this letter of encouragement.

With that background, let's now consider the encouragement and instruction given to these early members of the church. As we do so, let's glean truths which are applicable for the believers today.

James 1:9-11 (NASB)

9  But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10  and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11  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.

As we journey through life, many people experience opportunities to change their circumstances. We are inspired by the stories of individuals who have gone from rags to riches. No doubt we have all dreamed how much different life would be, or might have been, if only we had the resources. At the same time we have been repulsed by privilege afforded those in high positions who have broken the law or flaunted it with seeming impunity because of their wealth.

Today’s devotion provides the listener with a valuable lesson for living, and reminds us death is a great leveler.

In my career as a pastor I had the opportunity to live in several communities around the nation. Each community had its customs, traditions and influencers. Each congregation I served also had its customs, traditions and influencers. No doubt, the early church, as it was dispersed among the nations found the same to be true, and James addressed this in these verses. It was my experience that it was important to identify the influencers in a congregation and community, realizing they were either going to be an asset or liability. The danger is to assume that wealth is power and to think the level of influence one has is relative to their financial status. Nothing could be further from the truth, and James reminds the church of this truth..

Note James's assessment of the poor and wealthy.

The brother of humble circumstances has the high position

The rich man has humiliation.

That flies in the face of our conventional wisdom doesn't it? Our society would say the rich man has the high position and the brother of humble circumstances is the one with humiliation. However, in the economy of Heaven, earthly wealth is of no importance. Jesus died for both the poor and the rich. Faith in Christ is what secures our hope in Heaven. According to the Apostle Paul, in Colossians 3:11 Christ has broken down the dividing walls which separate us in society. The wealth of this world can be lost as quickly as the beauty of the flower in a scorching wind.

The day will come when we all pass away. When we stand before the Lord, his question will not be whether you were rich or poor, rather it will be did you put your faith in Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord?