THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

Rich Man, Poor Man – James 1:9-11

James1:9-11

But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich

man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For

the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off

and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst

of his pursuits will fade away.

Wouldn’t You Like To Be Rich?

Bill: “I went to the bank to see about a loan.”

Steve: Why’d you need a loan?

Bill: “I didn’t. The bank did.”

Steve JobsBill Gates

God may not want you to be rich

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

I. The Poor Brother; vs. 9

Lowly circumstances God cares for the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 --

For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.

Proverbs 14:31

He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

Proverbs 19:17

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,And He will repay him for his good deed.

Jesus Came In Behalf of the Poor

Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor….”

Better Poor And Righteous

Proverbs 28:6 -- Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, Than he who is crooked though he be rich.

Jesus Challenged The Rich

Luke 14:13 -- But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind…

II. The Rich Brother

Should glory in his humility

Is compared to flowering grass.

Riches Can Be Deceitful Mark 4:19 --  but the worries

of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Proverbs 11:28 -- He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

Wealth Can Lead To Destruction

Matthew 19:21 -- Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Vs. 23-24

The Upside Down Economy of God

Matthew 20:16 -- So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

Mark 9:35 -- Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

The Lord Decides Rich or Poor

1 Samuel 2:6-8 -- “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. “The Lord makes poor and rich;He brings low, He also exalts. “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor;For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,And He set the world on them.

Jesus Sets Our Example

2 Corinthians 8:9 -- For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.