Are you exalted or humbled? We can rejoice either way.

James 1:9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

James 1:10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.

James 1:11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

This is a call to both the lowly brother, and the rich brother. It's a call to glory ( that is, to glad, or to rejoice in )

For example, the lowly brother, or the poor man, is to glory in his exaltation. That is, while he may be poor on a material and monetary level, and may be lowly as far as society is concerned, it’s not so in God’s eyes and truth. He is exalted, in that he is in Christ. James was writing to christian brothers, and this exaltation is true of everyone that has come to faith in Jesus Christ. We are exalted in Christ. We are joint-heirs with Christ. So, that’s one thing.

But, now to the rich man. It’s just the opposite in some ways. He is to rejoice in, or glory in the fact, that he has become humbled. The truth of God can come home to a rich man, and enable him to see the end of the matter, and the truth about his riches and position. James gives the illustration of the flower of the field. It’s no sooner bloomed, then along comes the sun, and it causes the flower to wither. It falls, and all of it’s beauty vanishes. This is just what will happen to the rich man ( in terms of his physical riches and so on )

So, James is helping to show, “let’s measure our lives from the perspective of God’s Word and God’s truth. Let’s have that eternal perspective about our lives.”

Are you poor and lowly, then rejoice in your position in Christ. Are you a rich man, then remember, you have eternal riches, and the temporal things will just pass away, but not the eternal life that has been given to you.

Thank You Lord. We appreciate You telling us the truth about life. Help Us Lord, to take it to heart, and to put it into application day by day. We love you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises.

1. Which position are you in right now?

2. Has God exalted you?

3. Has God humbled you?

4. Either way, we can rejoice in the Lord.