In James 1:9-12 James speaks to three types of people.
He speaks to the
Poor
Rich
Persecuted
He speaks first to the poor.
James 1:9
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
People in physically humble circumstances are to praise God for their humble circumstances.
People in humble circumstances are to see those circumstances as a high position.
Need causes us to look to a source to meet that need.
The source that meets all needs - physical, emotional, or spiritual - is Jesus.
Why should people in humble circumstances see it as a high position?
Psalm 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
God guides the humble and teaches them His way to live.
Proverbs 3:34
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
God gives grace to people who are humble.
Isaiah 57:15
For this is what the high and lofty One says - he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
God revives the person who is lowly and contrite.
God can do all this when the people in humble circumstances know they are poor and are willing to humble themselves and look to Jesus to be their life.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is allowing our humble circumstances to lead us to Jesus as our answer and our help.
He speaks next to the rich.
James 1:10-11
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom fails and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
God says that the rich person should praise God for his low position.
The rich person’s position is low because the wealth can go away at any moment.
In Matthew 6 Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on earth because by moth or rust or thieves they can be taken away. He tells us that we are to focus on building up treasure in heaven because that treasure will never be taken from us.
Material wealth is not wrong or evil.
Material wealth is not sinful.
Material wealth only becomes wrong or evil or sinful when we depend on it and not Jesus.
Material wealth should make us grateful, not prideful.
Material wealth should be seen as a blessing from God to share with those who are not so blessed.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is sharing material with others to honor God.
He then speaks to those who are persecuted.
James 1:12
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.
God says that the person undergoing persecution or going through trials is blessed if he endures through the difficult time. God will give him the crown of life.
The crown in this verse is the wreath or garland given as a prize to the victors in public games. It is the victor’s crown, not the kingly crown. The kingly crown is for our king - Jesus.
In Matthew 5:11 Jesus says that you are blessed when you are persecuted and that you will receive the kingdom of heaven.
Persecution is never fun. It is never easy to endure but it does focus us to look to Jesus and depend on Him.
Persecution is a sign that God is at work in us and making Satan nervous about what God will accomplish through us. He then tries to distract us from following Jesus through the trials.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is allowing God to use trials and persecution to draw us closer to Him.
The kingdom of God is 180 degrees different from the kingdom of man. Jesus came to give us a different a way to view life and live life.
In God’s kingdom
Poor is a high position
Rich is a low position
People who are persecuted are blessed.
We need to live from the viewpoint of God’s kingdom, not man’s kingdom.
As a Part of God’s Kingdom Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
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