Text: James 1:9-11
James writes about the rich and the poor in today’s reading, but it is important to remember that James is writing primarily to Jews who are facing some very serious trials and tests. He tells them to consider it pure joy when they face different kinds of trials because they are learning to trust God and become complete in God. Some of their trials may have included social persecution for their faith, or possibly living on the short end of favouritism from some of the people in their own church family.
So James writes to encourage the poor and to correct wrong attitudes about those who overlook or mistreat them. He did not miss the emphasis on money and possessions in teaching of Jesus. We will find that in four different passages James discusses the issue of money and possessions. Today we will consider the first of these passages in James 1:9-11. In this passage, James addresses our attitudes related to wealth and poverty. He challenges us to view people and possessions through Christian eyes that see things through the framework of godly values.
The standard view during the days of James was that spiritual standing was indicated by material standing. The poor were ignored or punished by God and deserved no special courtesy. The wealthy were blessed by God and should be shown favour. So, the wealthy were viewed as spiritually blessed and worthy of special treatment while the poor were considered spiritually poor and treated poorly. (See James 2:1-4). James uses the example of the wild flowers which appear for a time and then are scorched by the arid winds and die.
So it is with possessions and their possessors. They are here for a very short time and then they are gone. The point is that we cannot place eternal significance on that which is temporal. Material wealth does not last. We cannot depend on it to secure eternal blessing.
The issue of money has been a prominent one from the inception of the church. Jesus had a lot to say about poverty and riches. 16 of 38 parables dealt with money/possessions. 1 out of every 10 verses in the gospels i.e. 288 verses deals directly with money. The Bible has 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2000 that deal with money/possessions. So the way we use whatever wealth we have is pretty important to God.
James speaks about the Lofty Status of the Poor – lofty in the sense that the Lord is the defender and provider for those who live in poverty, who do not know how their basic needs will be met. The Bible shows us very clearly how much God cares for the poor. Exodus 23:11 says during the seventh year let the land lie unploughed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it.
Leviticus 19:15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly. Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your brothers, sisters and toward the poor and needy in your land.
The NT also tells believers to remember to treat the poor with love and do something to help them when you are able. This is very pleasing to God! Selfishness and greed, however, have no place in the heart of a Christ follower.
Riches can also test your faith in God. Wealth has a tendency to so confuse a human being’s perspective that it can lead to eternal consequences. It takes deliberate action to keep our priorities straight in this culture. The trial that rich people go through is that they tend to believe to be self-sufficient. They tend to trust in themselves so much that they can’t bring themselves to trust in God. When a rich person trusts in his wealth and applauds himself for earning such a fortune, it must sound kind of silly to God.
James talks about the Low Status of the Wealthy. For a wealthy Christian this could mean low in the sense of servant hood- using the resources God has blessed you with to serve the poor and needy. Also low in that the wealth is only temporary. The economy of death and dying renders everyone penniless. James uses the example of the wild flowers which appear for a time and then are scorched by the arid winds and die. So it is with possessions and their possessors. They are here for a very short time and then they are gone. The point is that we cannot place eternal significance on that which is temporal. Material wealth does not last. We cannot depend on it to secure eternal blessing.
Jesus indicated that it was very hard for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom (easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle). Matthew 13:22 “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. It is unfair to say that all rich people are selfish and bent on evil. Several Bible characters like Abraham, Job, and Esther were wealthy, but they used their wealth to honor God and to help those in need around them also, they did not put their trust in wealth to give them their sense of value. They overcame all the temptations of wealth. True worth comes only from the One who is worthy – worthy of all that we are and do.
George Barna conducted a survey that showed 50% of Christians consider money to the primary indicator of success. 19% of Christians believe you can tell how successful a person is by examining what they own. It is difficult to avoid being products of our culture. However, the Bible offers us guidance and answers to how we should view wealth and poverty. Some of the richest people on this earth have nothing to show for themselves financially! Some of the most impoverished souls are those who have exchanged what really mattered for what amounts to a temporary permit.
There are some believers who abandoned all their riches and possessions and live in celibacy. They don’t care what happens around them but target on eternal life by living spiritually. God doesn’t want this from his children. Use your wealth and time to empower the oppressed and poor. As Matthew 25: 40 depicts “Just as you did it to one of these who are members of my family you did it to me”. It clearly indicates that the poor, sick and the down trodden are the members of God’s family and engaging them in their need and suffering is the will of God.
John D. Rockefeller Jr. wrote "The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money".The prosperity doesn’t determine the value of a person. The final measure of a man or a woman is based on their response to their Creator and neighbour. All human beings have value because God created them. Paul writes in 2 Cor. 8:9, “ For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich”. Jesus identified himself with the poor, sinners and oppressed and paved a path to follow in his foot steps. Rich should not boast of their wealth and prosperity but should be humble and poor in spirit. Christian’s response to poverty is to be kind to the poor, defend the poor and share Christ with the poor. The question now is where are we? And how are we to respond? May the comforting God be with us to discern our ways. Amen.
James writes about the rich and the poor in today’s reading, but it is important to remember that James is writing primarily to Jews who are facing some very serious trials and tests. He tells them to consider it pure joy when they face different kinds of trials because they are learning to trust God and become complete in God. Some of their trials may have included social persecution for their faith, or possibly living on the short end of favouritism from some of the people in their own church family.
So James writes to encourage the poor and to correct wrong attitudes about those who overlook or mistreat them. He did not miss the emphasis on money and possessions in teaching of Jesus. We will find that in four different passages James discusses the issue of money and possessions. Today we will consider the first of these passages in James 1:9-11. In this passage, James addresses our attitudes related to wealth and poverty. He challenges us to view people and possessions through Christian eyes that see things through the framework of godly values.
The standard view during the days of James was that spiritual standing was indicated by material standing. The poor were ignored or punished by God and deserved no special courtesy. The wealthy were blessed by God and should be shown favour. So, the wealthy were viewed as spiritually blessed and worthy of special treatment while the poor were considered spiritually poor and treated poorly. (See James 2:1-4). James uses the example of the wild flowers which appear for a time and then are scorched by the arid winds and die.
So it is with possessions and their possessors. They are here for a very short time and then they are gone. The point is that we cannot place eternal significance on that which is temporal. Material wealth does not last. We cannot depend on it to secure eternal blessing.
The issue of money has been a prominent one from the inception of the church. Jesus had a lot to say about poverty and riches. 16 of 38 parables dealt with money/possessions. 1 out of every 10 verses in the gospels i.e. 288 verses deals directly with money. The Bible has 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2000 that deal with money/possessions. So the way we use whatever wealth we have is pretty important to God.
James speaks about the Lofty Status of the Poor – lofty in the sense that the Lord is the defender and provider for those who live in poverty, who do not know how their basic needs will be met. The Bible shows us very clearly how much God cares for the poor. Exodus 23:11 says during the seventh year let the land lie unploughed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it.
Leviticus 19:15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly. Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your brothers, sisters and toward the poor and needy in your land.
The NT also tells believers to remember to treat the poor with love and do something to help them when you are able. This is very pleasing to God! Selfishness and greed, however, have no place in the heart of a Christ follower.
Riches can also test your faith in God. Wealth has a tendency to so confuse a human being’s perspective that it can lead to eternal consequences. It takes deliberate action to keep our priorities straight in this culture. The trial that rich people go through is that they tend to believe to be self-sufficient. They tend to trust in themselves so much that they can’t bring themselves to trust in God. When a rich person trusts in his wealth and applauds himself for earning such a fortune, it must sound kind of silly to God.
James talks about the Low Status of the Wealthy. For a wealthy Christian this could mean low in the sense of servant hood- using the resources God has blessed you with to serve the poor and needy. Also low in that the wealth is only temporary. The economy of death and dying renders everyone penniless. James uses the example of the wild flowers which appear for a time and then are scorched by the arid winds and die. So it is with possessions and their possessors. They are here for a very short time and then they are gone. The point is that we cannot place eternal significance on that which is temporal. Material wealth does not last. We cannot depend on it to secure eternal blessing.
Jesus indicated that it was very hard for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom (easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle). Matthew 13:22 “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. It is unfair to say that all rich people are selfish and bent on evil. Several Bible characters like Abraham, Job, and Esther were wealthy, but they used their wealth to honor God and to help those in need around them also, they did not put their trust in wealth to give them their sense of value. They overcame all the temptations of wealth. True worth comes only from the One who is worthy – worthy of all that we are and do.
George Barna conducted a survey that showed 50% of Christians consider money to the primary indicator of success. 19% of Christians believe you can tell how successful a person is by examining what they own. It is difficult to avoid being products of our culture. However, the Bible offers us guidance and answers to how we should view wealth and poverty. Some of the richest people on this earth have nothing to show for themselves financially! Some of the most impoverished souls are those who have exchanged what really mattered for what amounts to a temporary permit.
There are some believers who abandoned all their riches and possessions and live in celibacy. They don’t care what happens around them but target on eternal life by living spiritually. God doesn’t want this from his children. Use your wealth and time to empower the oppressed and poor. As Matthew 25: 40 depicts “Just as you did it to one of these who are members of my family you did it to me”. It clearly indicates that the poor, sick and the down trodden are the members of God’s family and engaging them in their need and suffering is the will of God.
John D. Rockefeller Jr. wrote "The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money".The prosperity doesn’t determine the value of a person. The final measure of a man or a woman is based on their response to their Creator and neighbour. All human beings have value because God created them. Paul writes in 2 Cor. 8:9, “ For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich”. Jesus identified himself with the poor, sinners and oppressed and paved a path to follow in his foot steps. Rich should not boast of their wealth and prosperity but should be humble and poor in spirit. Christian’s response to poverty is to be kind to the poor, defend the poor and share Christ with the poor. The question now is where are we? And how are we to respond? May the comforting God be with us to discern our ways. Amen.
[John Haide Manukonda, the preacher of this Sermon, is a final year BD student in Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute Chennai, India.]
