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Biblical
references in Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ's nondenominational sermon
outlines are linked directly to text of the King James version of the Bible.
Bible quotes you hear in the streaming audio may be from the New King James
version of the Bible.
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Introduction.
1. James has already discussed how we can turn trials into triumph, dealing with
trials in general - James 1:2-8
2. In James 1:9-11, he discusses specifically the trials of being poor and being
rich, and the attitudes we should have.
3. In this lesson, we shall concentrate our attention on
James 1:9-11 and
passages elsewhere which deal with the subject of poverty and wealth
Body.
I. THE TRIALS OF POVERTY AND WEALTH
Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood
and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches - Feed me with the food
allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or
lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.
A. In poverty, we may be tempted to curse God.
1. Like Job’s wife wanted her husband to do, when they had lost everything -
Job
2:9
2. And as many do today when things don’t go well.
B. In wealth, we may be tempted to forget God.
1. As God warned Israel that it might happen to them -
Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17
2. And as it did in fact happen to them -
Hosea 13:5-6
II. THE REASONS FOR JOY IN POVERTY OR WEALTH (James 1:9-11)
A. If we are poor, then we can rejoice that we have been Exalted!
1. God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith -
Isaiah 66:1-2;
James 2:5
a. It is the poor who first had the gospel preached to them -
Luke 4:18
b. It is the poor slave who becomes Christ’s freedman -
1 Corinthians 7:21-22
2. So even if poor, we can still be spiritually rich and on par with all
Christians - Revelation 2:8-9
B. If we are rich, then we can rejoice that we have been humbled!
1. The rich are humbled by their:
b. Being placed on an equal par with all Christians...in which riches mean
nothing -
Revelation 3:11-19
2. Why it is good that the rich be so humbled?
b. Riches are unable to redeem our souls -
Psalms 49:6-9,
13-20
c. The love of money is a quagmire and a source of self-inflicted injuries -
1 Timothy 6:9-10
3. In other words, it is good that in coming to Jesus Christ we find these
things out.
a. Or we might have made the same mistake many make today.
b. Thinking that money provides true security (remember the rich fool? - Luke
12:13-21).
Conclusion.
1. Even in the trials of poverty or wealth, there can be a cause for rejoicing!
2. For Jesus is the great equalizer.
a. Exalting the poor who are rich in faith.
b. Humbling the wealthy by basing their salvation not on wealth, but on that
which cannot be bought: the blood of Jesus and the obedience of a humble and
contrite spirit.
3. Keeping these thoughts in mind will help us learn to be content in whatever
financial conditions we may find ourselves; as Paul wrote:
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in
whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to
abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me.
4. The important question is not how rich are you? but how rich in faith are
you?
Don Treadway,
03/07/2004 |
