Trials the Great Equalizers

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him--James 1:1-12 

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,


We are still talking about trials and the attitudes that are necessary to persevere and have victory in our difficulties.  We have already looked at 4.  A joyful attitude, an understanding mind, a surrendered will and a believing heart.  The last one is a humble spirit.

Here are the verses we will be looking at today:  

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.--James 1:9-11

God is no respecter of persons.  Trials come to everyone. They level the playing field and make believers, rich or poor, increasingly dependent on God.  They, by design, wean us off of earthly things and teach us to set our minds on things above.

The poor or lowly brother can glory in his exaltation.  The word glory there means to take legitimate pride or boast.  When the humble of circumstances become discouraged they can dwell on riches they have in Christ. The lowly person can boast or rejoice in his spiritual heritage. Romans 8:17 says this:  "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." WOW!  Imagine if that were always our focus. He can also rejoice in God's sovereignty knowing God does all things perfectly, and that where he finds himself is exactly where he needs to be in order to fulfill God's perfect plan for Him.  

The rich man can boast in his humiliation knowing that as he is brought low he comes to understand more and more that joy and contentment come from Christ alone...earthly riches do not satisfy. Hebrews 10:34 says: "for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven." Flowers of the field will fade away and be no more as will the rich man...but when we set our minds on things above and store up our treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy or take away; we become spiritually more stable less focused on the passing riches of this world and more on the eternal.. Earthly riches are fleeting and limited only to this world.

I love it...if we are poor or if we are rich we can still see beyond this world and be free of its chains to see the troubles we experience here with a heavenly perspective.   This is so needed as we go through trials.  It is so easy to see only what is right in front of us and lose sight of what is really important.

We can extrapolate this to other things also...whatever condition, circumstances or station we find ourselves in, in this life, we can accept them as being exactly where God wants us to be.  He is sovereign after all. We are what we are by the grace of God.  To argue and complain against God about it is foolish.  Aside from putting ourselves in a position to judge what God has so graciously blessed us with, we are focusing on ourselves.  Focusing on ourselves is NEVER productive and ALWAYS leads to unhappiness.  I think as women many of us spend so much time thinking about our size, shape, looks, talents, etc. that there really is no time left to think on the Lord, no less anyone else!  Lose your life here and gain it in the life to come...He must increase, I must decrease...It is not only the way of the cross, it is by definition the road to joy and abundant life.

As believers, going through trials, we begin to look up to Him more and more and realize who we are and WHO HE IS.  The closer we draw to Him the more we see our own unworthiness.  A humble spirit will COUNT it all joy and rejoice in times of trial.  A humble spirit will LET the Lord work in Him because he KNOWS that the Lord 's plan for him is perfect.  He will ASK for help in times of trial because he sees his own inadequacy to the task.  I will close with Jeremiah 9:23-24:

Thus says the LORD:  “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might,  Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight,” says the LORD--Jeremiah 9:23-24

Love
Mom