Digging Deeper 4
James 1:9-11 (Another shovel full)
The Book of James can be looked at as a mirror to gaze in to see where we are in our walk with God. “Digging Deeper” is an attempt to look at the scriptures and see God’s character and to see where man fits in the awesome will of God. This week we continue our study as James writes concerning glory in circumstance and position.
But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position James 1:9 First James indentifies the victims of humble circumstances as brother. Brother in this context is not referring to siblings it is referring to people that are in common such as living in the same area or people of like beliefs. James puts himself in this first group of people that suffer with humble circumstances. He is referring to believers.
What about these humble circumstances? What kind of circumstances can humility be attached to? A humble circumstance is a situation where there is a realization of need. Man is humbled when he is no longer in control and has to simply say “I cannot do it” and in that attitude man can experience the glory of God. We understand by the next verse concerning the rich that James is referring to poverty, or someone of little or no status among man, as a humble circumstance. But why does this humble circumstance result in a high position. Look at these words from Paul And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 A “brother” should glory in the high position of being joint heirs of Christ able to receive the wisdom, direction, peace and joy which far exceeds the value of all the riches of this world. Humble circumstances are circumstance that recognize that only God can provide and the glory of that high position is that we are “brothers” in the family of God!
Verse 10 and 11 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 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. Here James addresses the rich, but notice the scripture does not say the rich brethren. The rich here is not so much a description of wealth but an attitude of self sufficiency, although man almost always associates self- sufficiency with money there are much greater needs. Because of the temporary nature of riches a lifestyle of self- sufficiency always ends in humiliation. Riches or being self-sufficient is only for a season “like flower grass” but in the end will not stand up and what once looked strong and beautiful becomes ugly and is destroyed.
Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?
1. What do we believe about God?
- God is the supplier of all true needs.
- God is not expecting or even desiring us to be self-sufficient.
- God positions the humble in a high position, a child of God, joint heirs with Christ.
2. What do we believe about ourselves?
- Man needs God.
- Man can glory on his own for a season and look good doing it.
- If man is not humbled by the recognition of his need for God he soon will fade away.
- A man that sees God as God and is humbled by his circumstance will glory in the high position as a child of God!
n No one is self-sufficient everyone is in need. It seems that man is on a mission to figure out how to keep it all together and reach a point that there is no dependence on anyone or anything. It is this arrogance that is destroying man. “but let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position”
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