Very busy day today with work, managing the littles (Brooklyn[3] & Prim[6]), Homecoming Football game which was also my eldest’s (Bella[18]) last football cheerleading game, and all of us being under the weather somewhat. I realized that I am getting old…things are harder than they used to be and I get tired faster.
However, today’s quiet time (although late) was wonderful – James 1:9-11
9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God], 10 And the rich [person ought to glory] in being humbled [by being shown his human frailty], because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.
This passage has been a bit of a controversy across scholars and theologians for quite some time. Some believe that the “poor” people referenced are believers and the “rich” are unbelievers, but for me, this just doesn’t hold water when you look at the context of the rest of James’ writing.
Instead, I think James is talking about two different types of believers, and what they should hold fast to. The poor only have the Lord because of their status in society, lack of belongings, and material things. Where the rich have a lot of earthly comforts, money and status, and need to focus on the humility of being under an Almighty God, and be more like Christ, who humbled himself.
As Christians in a first world country, we need to keep our relative wealth in check. We must not allow the comfort of our refrigerators, our cozy homes, and our career positions be the thing that keeps us from leaning into the Lord for everything that we are and everything that we need. All of these earthly things will just pass away, so why not focus on the only thing that will last… the providential and sovereign eternal redemption we have through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.