Sermons From James - Trials Of Poverty & Wealth (1:9-11)

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                         "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

                   Trials Of Poverty & Wealth (1:9-11)
                                
INTRODUCTION

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

2. In verses 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

[Let's begin by noticing that both wealth and poverty can be a 
problem...]

I. THE TRIALS OF POVERTY AND WEALTH (cf. Prov 30:7-9)

   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 - Deut 8:10-
         14,17
      2. And as it did in fact happen to them - Hos 13:5-6

[Having seen that both poverty and wealth have their own potential for
causing problems, let's now consider...]

II. THE REASONS FOR JOY IN POVERTY OR WEALTH (Jm 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 - Is 66:1-2;
         Jm 2:5
         a. It is the poor who first had the gospel preached to them
            - Lk 4:18
         b. It is the poor slave who becomes Christ's "freedman" - 1
            Col 7:21-22
      2. So even if poor, we can still be "spiritually rich" and on
         equal par with all Christians - cf. Re 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" - 1Co 7:21-22
         b. Being placed on an equal par with all Christians...in which
            riches mean nothing - cf. Re 3:11-19
      2. Why it is good that the rich be so "humbled"...
         a. Riches are temporary - Jm 1:10-11; Prov 23:1-5; 1Ti 6:17
         b. Riches are unable to redeem our souls - Ps 49:6-9,13-20
         c. The love of money is a "quagmire" and a source of "self-
            inflicted injuries" - 1Ti 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? - Lk 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:

   11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
   whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. 12  I know both
   how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all
   things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
   abound and to suffer need. 13  I can do all things through Christ
   which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4)

The important question is not "How rich are you?" but "How rich IN FAITH
are you?"
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