Study of James
Lesson # 4
Rejoicing In Your Status In Life
Introduction
James has been discussing the Christians attitude toward the trials & pressures of life. God calls us to rejoice in the Lord always regardless of the circumstances we might be facing in life. Even hardship & struggles are reasons to rejoice because God is always with us & willing to provide whatever wisdom is needed to handle the situation. The end result is our maturity not our demise. In the midst of this discussion James wants us to realize that there is reason for all of us to rejoice. It doesnt matter whether we are rich or poor rejoice. Both rich & poor are found in the church, but neither wealth nor poverty is a determining factor in our spirituality, however our attitude concerning our wealth is a determining factor of our spiritual maturity.
1. The church is made up of both the rich & the poor
a. See the early church people from all walks of life
1) Made up of the poor Acts 2:45; 4:35; 1 Cor.1:26-28
2) Made up of slaves Eph.6:5; Col.3:22
3) Made up of the rich 1 Tim.6:17
b. James wants all Christians whether rich or poor to rejoice in their status in life
1) Not mean rejoice because we are poor, unhealthy or crippled
2) Means rejoice in spite of these conditions or circumstances
3) God loves & blesses all men regardless of their status in life
2. The brother of humble circumstances
a. Christianity brings to the poor man a new sense of value
1) Are to take pride in their high position
2) In Christ all Christians are exalted Eph.2:6; Gal.3:28,29;
3) God wants us to behave here on earth as kings & priests, regardless of
the circumstances we find ourselves in we are children of God.
b. Sadly most dont look at life this way
1) They allow their circumstances to dull, numb or destroy the spirit of joy
2) They become bitter & jealous & seek to take what others have
3) They also develop a sense of inferiority & inadequacy & take on a
withdrawn or slavish behavior (intimidated & ashamed).
c. God wants all Christians whether rich or poor to understand & rejoice in Jesus.
1) No matter our status in life we are important His children
2) God wants to work in all of us Phil.2:12,13
3) A downcast, insecure, threatened Christian is not to be the norm.
Though our outward social status may be viewed with contempt by
the world, we can still rejoice because of our spiritual status which
is based upon our relationship with Jesus.
2
3. The rich take pride in his low position
a. Wealth has its dangers
1) Hard to enter the kingdom of God Mt.19:23
2) Can plunge us into ruin & destruction 1 Tim.6:9,10
3) Choke out the word of God & makes us unfruitful Mt.13:22
b. Wealth can also be used properly & be beneficial
1) Acts 4:37 meet the needs of the poor
2) 1 Tim.6:17-19 help us accomplish good works as we share
3) Rich Christians can be beneficial to the church, but they must have the
right attitude toward their wealth.
a) Not to use wealth to manipulate & have their way
b) If freely give so kingdom of God advanced no strings
4) Having riches brings with them responsibilities
a) Given to us so we might share with others in need
b) If we hoard them, they will destroy us Lk.18:22-27
c. As the poor brother is to forget his earthly poverty, so the rich brother is to
forget his earthly wealth. We are one (the same) in Christ.
1) God doesnt accept us based upon our social status 1 Cor.1:26-31
2) We are accepted because of what Jesus did His righteousness
4. Riches are fleeting & brief
a. Like flowering grass soon withers when desert wind blows on it
b. In the midst of his business as he chases the elusive dollar
c. The rich man may feel that he is safe & have a false sense of security
1) Feels that he has the resources to cope with anything
2) Feels he can buy anything buy self out of any situation
d. The person who trusts in riches is trusting in something that can be taken from
him so quickly like the winds affect the flowers in the desert. Life is so
uncertain, man is so vulnerable calamity & disaster can come at any
moment.
e. God wants us to realize our helplessness & humbly trust God who alone can
give us things which will abide forever.
1. Patiently enduring trials brings blessings
a. Blessed refers to an inward spiritual joy & satisfaction
1) Knowing that God is looking after & cares for him
2) Knowing that God will deliver him from whatever happens in life
b. Blessedness comes not from the freedom from trials, but from enduring trials
1) As we learn to faithfully face the trials of life we find blessedness
2) Instead of fleeing from trails learn to face them properly
c. Stood the test faith tried & proven genuine
3
2. Blessings both now & eternally
a. Now life is purified, weaknesses in character are erased
b. In the life to come a crown of life (crown = a mark of honor & dignity)
1) A crown of life a crown that consists of life
2) Life that is eternal & abundant
c. Barclay The Christian has a joy that no other can have. Life for him is like life
forever at a feast. Christians have a royalty that other men have
never realized, for, however humble his earthly circumstances; he
is nothing less than a child of God. Christians have a victory that
others cannot win, for he meets life & all its demands in the
conquering power & presence of Jesus. God Himself gives him the
victory. Christians have a new dignity & worth in life through the
life & death of Jesus. He is not worthless because Jesus died for
him.
3. The weak Christian will cave in to trials & pressures & lose the blessing
a. Mt.10:22 he that endures to the end shall be saved
b. 1 Cor.15:58 be steadfast & unmovable our work in the Lord is never in vain
c. Gal.6:9 not to grow weary in well doing
d. Rev.3:11 holdfast to what you have, that no one take your crown
e. Heb.5:8 learned obedience through things suffered
f. 1 Cor.9:27 make body a slave lest disqualified for the prize