FAITH WORKS PRODUCTIVELY
JAMES 1:9-12
FAITH WORKS PRODUCTIVELY
FAITH WORKS #3
Sometimes as we go through life, and as we work hard,
and as we face trials, as we see little fruit for our labors, we may ask the
question, “Is it worth it?”
Are the sacrifices worth the pain, anxiety and
suffering we go through.
In James 1:9-12 we find that James is telling us “It’s
Worth It”. There are good results to our suffering patiently through problems.
That means FAITH WORKS PRODUCTIVELY.
THE POOR MAN IS EXALTED – Vs. 9
Vs. 9 - Have you ever noticed how often finances are
involved in our trials?
· You under
pressure to find a place to live and it requires money.
· The car is
falling apart, and spends more time in the shop than on the road, and it
requires money.
· You or a
loved one is sick, going back and forth to the doctor and/or hospital and it
requires money.
· Your child
has to have braces and it requires money.
You have probably discovered that money is not
something that grows on trees, and for most of us, enough money is always just
a little more than we have right now!
Most of us can relate to the “brother of low degree”
mentioned in this verse.
· The brother
of low degree is not well off financially.
· The brother
of low degree probably struggles with money.
· To add to
this insult, as he goes through trials, the brother of low degree also has
little self esteem.
· He does not
have a high position in the community.
· He is not on
a high social level.
· He is not
part of the “upper crust” of society.
Please bear in mind that James is viewing this
“Brother of low degree” from a human stand point. Before God, every born again
Christian is well loved and thought of! 1 Peter 2:9-10
What should the brother of low degree be doing during
his trials? He should rejoice that he is exalted.
So, Christian, what do we have to be proud of, or
constantly joyful over?
OUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN
Luke 10:20
WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD
John 1:12
WE ARE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST
Romans 8:16-17
So when those trials of a financial nature come, and
when those trials that force you into a lowly position in other ways come
remember to rejoice that in Christ you are exalted.
THE RICH MAN IS HUMBLED – Vss. 10-11
The way the stock market is going lately you might be
glad if you have no money invested.
I have a feeling that over the last few years many a
wealthy person lost some sleep over the value of their investments. When you have money, it’s usually a tragedy
when it is lost. Being responsible for money can be a heavy burden.
Another trial of wealth is that you never know who
your friends are. When you have money, everybody is your friend because they’d
like to be in on the money.
James understood that wealth comes with problems.
And in these verses, he is talking to the Christian Brother
who has wealth.
It is not a sin to be wealthy and to be a Christian.
God has blessed some with wealth, and I think they
should be thankful to God.
But when the trials of wealth come, look at why it’s
worth it.
Vs. 10 – The rich brother is to rejoice
because he is made low.
How does the rich brother get into Heaven?
He gets there the same way the poor brother does.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Everyone gets to Heaven by God’s grace.
It is not based on a man’s work.
It is through the means of faith.
To be saved a person must admit that he or she is not
good enough to please God.
They must humble themselves before God in order to get
into Heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4 - …Verily
I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
So the rich man can rejoice that he has been made
humble.
He can rejoice that he has discovered that his wealth
is temporary, and that he has something better in the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s
worth it!
Vs. 11 shows how temporary wealth is.
Once a rich man passed away and someone asked another,
“How much did he leave?”
“All of it was the answer.”
The rich man will die in a few years just like the
poor man. Being wealthy is only temporary.
THE FAITHFUL MAN IS REWARDED – Vs. 12
Vs. 12 – God wants us to be happy, even in trials.
So, here we find that the man who is enduring, that
is, successfully handling trials, bearing under without giving in, or giving
up, is the one who can be happy.
There will be a day when he is tried.
There are two trials.
You will stand trial at one of them.
The trial you don’t want to stand at is “The Great
White Throne”. This for the unsaved and will result in everlasting punishment.
Revelation 20:15
The trial Christians stand in is the “Judgment Seat of
Christ”. Here our Lord is going to evaluate us and reward us for faithful
service to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:10
2 Corinthians 5:10 - For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it
be good or bad.
James is saying that the person who successfully
endured will receive a “crown”. There are several “crowns” or rewards
Christians can earn. This one is for the one who endures. It is called the
crown of “life”. Not salvation. That can’t be earned.
Notice the Lord has promised it to those who endure.
And he says that those that endure are those who love
Him.
What a perspective on bearing our trials patiently.
When we allow God to mature us through the trials we
are saying, “Lord, I love you!”
When we are not enduring faithfully in our trials,
what are we saying?
“Lord, I love something else more than I do you.”
“Lord, I love someone else more than I do you.”
“Lord, I love myself more than I do you.”
THE POOR MAN IS EXALTED
THE RICH MAN IS HUMBLED
THE FAITHFUL MAN IS REWARDED
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