Living Wisely in Plenty and Want - James 1:9-11

Money and finances is perhaps the one subject that most people think about most everyday. And God's people are constantly tempted to fall into the trap of thinking that our lives would be better if we could just achieve financial security. Our current recession has given the church the opportunity to witness to those around us by demonstrating the value of exalting in our high position in Christ instead of musing on what life would be like if we only had a few more dollars. Beyond that those of us who are wealthy can show both the rich and the poor that belivers do not gain our identity, security, signicance and satisfaction through wealth, but from our worshiping relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ. So then, how do the people of God live wisely whether we're blessed with wealth or struggling with want?

James begins his exhortation by commanding those in Christ who are materially poor to exalt or take pride in our high position. That position refers to our union with Christ and all the blessings that come with it. The low position refers to the things tied to this life that are destined to pass away. In this sense to take pride in is to draw one’s identity, security and significance from something. The danger of wealth is that it well tempt us to draw our identity, security and significance from it rather than Christ.

What is our high position and why should we take pride in it? Our high position has to with all that we have and all that we are in our union and unity with Jesus Christ through faith in His sinless life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. They apply to all believers and have the following characteristics in common:

They’re all given by grace.
They belong to us now and will be ours forever.
They shape the way we think, speak and live in the here and now.
They are far, far more infinitely wonderful, beautiful, powerful, satisfying and glorious than the very, very best life we could enjoy in this lifetime.
They are the things that we boast in, think on and rejoice in.

What are some of those things?

In Christ we exalt that is we find our identity, significance, security and satisfaction in being God’s choice to stand before Him in worship without any hint of shame or guilt.

In Christ we exalt in being predestined to be the sons of the living God and thus enjoying a permanent place of honor in His family.

In Christ we exalt in having our sins forgiven, the debt we owed to God has been forever canceled and we have absolute assurance that He is pleased with us, loves us and is present with us.

In Christ we exalt in knowing that the Father has revealed His express will and agenda to us which is to unite the entire universe under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In Christ we exalt in obtaining an inheritance that is far beyond our ability to adequately describe.

In Christ we exalt in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit who has sealed us until the day we receive and enjoy our full inheritance.

In Christ we exalt in the reality that we are God’s own inheritance, the people He has called to Himself, loved deeply and desires to spend all eternity with.

In Christ we exalt in the blessing of being the objects of God’s rich mercy and gracious love instead of His righteous and fair anger against our sin.

In Christ we exalt in being given new life and a new godly nature which led to belief in Christ.

In Christ we exalt in being seated with Christ in heavenly places where we will be the object of God’s immeasurable kindness and affection forever.

In Christ we exalt in being apart of the true temple made up of all of Christ’s blood washed believers who exist to worship Him in Spirit filled unity.

In Christ we exalt in being fellow heirs, members of the same body, and full participants in the promise of God’s long promised and one messiah Jesus Christ through the gospel.

In Christ we exalt that being strengthened by the Spirit we can understand the breadth, length, height and depth of the love of Christ that surpasses human knowledge.

In Christ we exalt in the God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think according to the power that’s in us so that to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ throughout all generations forever and ever.

That’s why the poorest believer in Christ has more wealth, riches and inheritance than the top one thousand billionaires combined.
And that’s why the people of God need not sit around and commiserate about our temporary circumstances in the here and now. We don’t have to spend time wondering what life would be like if we only had financial security. While financial security has some benefits we have soul security and that’s something money can never buy.

Of course it almost goes without saying that those are the very same blessings that wealthy believers can exalt in. But what should they do to guard against being caught up in exalting in their wealth?

The wealthy should view their wealth with humility because even great, great wealth has its limitations.

Money can’t buy happiness. It can buy nice experiences but not necessarily satisfaction. Money can’t buy love. It can buy pleasure but not necessarily intimacy.
Money can’t buy good friends. It can hire staff, command respect from peers but that doesn’t equal friendship.
Money can’t pay off your sin debt.

James says that the rich should caution themselves and always be mindful of their humiliation because they too will die. He uses the term humiliation to indicate the powerlessness the rich have over their physical lives. With all their money, influence and worldly power that money buys it cannot buy them one extra minute of life. With that in mind the wealthy then should also have a humble attitude with respect to their wealth.

While wealth is certainly a blessing from God it doesn’t mean that you yourself enjoy God’s favor because that’s only given to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to believe in Christ?
You must believe that you guilty of disobeying God’s word in how you think, how you speak and some of the things you’ve done.
You must believe that God is both fair and serious when He claims that all those who are guilty will face his punishment.
You must believe that Jesus Christ lived a perfectly sinless life on your behalf and therefore earned the favor that you could not. You must believe that when Christ died on the cross He paid for all of the sins you committed past, present and future.
You must believe that Christ physically, bodily rose from the grave proving that the Father accepted His sinless life and sacrificial death on your behalf.

You can do all of that right here, right now and it won’t cost you one thin dime.

Click here to listen to the audio of this message.

Questions for reflection:

How much time do you think about money and finances?
Do you find yourself fantasizing about being wealthy or at least well off?
How often do you think on the blessings of your salvation?
Do you consider yourself content and if not what do you believe would bring you to the point of contentment?

To Him Who Loves Us..

Pastor Lance