Instructions to Rich and Poor
Introduction: James 1:9-11
1. Christianity is perfectly adapted to all of man's problems regardless of their variations.
2. Radical alterations in one's life produce a great many trials.
3. The faithful Christian will not allow his relationship with God to be affected by these trials.
4. James 1:1-4 establishes the value of truth and the joy associated with temptations.
5. James 1:5-8 explains the faithfulness required to be able to obtain wisdom
6. James 1:9-11 provides a practical application for understanding how joy comes from temptations.
7. The situation in James 1:9-11 explores the changing of one's economic status.
8. Trials/Persecutions result from the temptation that comes from a change in environment.
9. The change is one's economic status should not produce sin but glory in the Lord.
I. Faith Proven by Riches
A. Brother of Low Degree Thrust into High Estate
1) Brother in the Lord
2) Became Rich
3) Trial of Change in Economic Status
1. He now has the means of sensual gratification and indulgence.
2. He may feel he can do what he wants because he has the means to do so.
3. This is true with anyone who is rich but more so with one who is nouveau riche.
B. Glory in Faithfulness
1) Attitude
1. How does his new economic status affect his faith and attitude toward God?
a. Will he choose to buy something that prevents him from attending worship?
b. Will he remember his problems and use his wealth to help?
c. Will he depend upon his riches to satisfy himself rather than God?
d. Each of these questions deals with the faith of the individual who has gained a great deal of wealth.
2. Mark 10:24 - And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
a. A camel being pushed through the eye of a needle.
b. Very difficult because riches tempt one to look at the physical rather than spiritual.
3. 3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
a. God wants man to prosper.
b. But the prosperity of physical blessing must coincide with spiritual prosperity.
2) Enhanced to do More Good
3) Responsibility Increased
II. Faith Proven by Poverty
A. Brother of High Estate Thrust into Low Degree
1) Easiness of Seeing by Worldly Eyes
1. Anytime someone looses something they have grief.
2. A loss of riches can create a great deal of hurt, anger, and pain towards God.
3. These feelings are natural
4. But if they are not controlled then they may cause someone to hate God.
a. Hate so much they quit the church
b. Angry at God so they choose to sin
c. Filled with so much pain they cause division their house and in God's house.
2) Difficulty of Seeing With Faith
1. The individual who can deal with grief from the standpoint of faith will succeed in the temptation before them.
2. Psa. 22:1-2 - My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3. Psa. 22:20-22 - Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
3) Responsibility to Accept the Providence of the Lord
1. Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2. Rom. 8:5 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
B. Glory in Faithfulness
1) Loss of Riches is providential and therefore good
2) Association with the world and influence decreased
3) Stress lifted and enhances the length of life
4) Fix attention more on things with are eternal
1. 2 Cor. 4:18 - While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2. Luke 12:15 - And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
III. Futility Provided by Things
A. Trials of Life are the Scorching Heat
1) Simoom
1. Comes from the deserts east of the Jordan Valley and the deserts south towards Egypt.
2. Destructive that the heat is so intense it causes things to wither and die
a. Grass, Eze. 17:10 - Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.
b. Man, Jonah 4:8 - And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
2) Fragile Grass
1. Character of Things are limited to the physical world
2. Brevity of Man's life exemplified by the speed of withering in the flower.
3. Job 14:1-2 - Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
B. Death comes at its appointed time.
1) Concern for things in life are pointless
1. For God gives and God takes away
2. Riches have not eternal value
2) Death is common to all
3) Rich men cannot escape it
1. So if you have riches examine your life rather than your wallet
2. So if you want riches examine your life rather than wasting time wanting to be rich.
Conclusion:
1. Death is inevitable and we should remember where our focus should be.
2. Truth produces joy in the face of trials and persecution
3. Faith provides wisdom for facing trials and persecution
4. The futility of riches and the inevitability of death exemplify the importance of faith.
5. The change in economic status can only provide joy if one can maintain his faith.
6. Death comes equally to all regardless of economic status
7. The Christian can rejoice because he knows that regardless of the trial he is assured of his place in heaven.
8. Do you have that assurance?
9. Have you allowed your faith to waver in the face of your economic status?
10.Turn to God and listen to his instructions.
11.Because Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.... Plan of Salvation
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