Today's Sermon - Seeing Things Differently

I heard not a word of it...other then "amen" when Jim finished his message this morning.

For the last few services Jim has preached on James, spending lots of time in the first few verses, today he moved on to James 1:9-11

⁹Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

The larger context of course is vv 2-18

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

But let this quiet moment be my worship time....Jim's off to find some food to eat. I had no idea what to do for a meal, nothing appealed to me, nothing appealed to him....so he's figuring out his thing and I'm munching...not good for a Sunday..but that's life tonight. This quietness won't last long, we do live in a small town....

Anyways, .... ⁹Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

These three verses follow a section where the wise go to God in faith for anything that they lack. And here we find the lowly boast in their exultation and the rich in their humiliation and knowing that none of it matters because it will all fade away anyways. The days come and go, the seasons pass, and as they go...so do the rich.

I have to admit....how does one preach on this for 20 minutes?? :) Makes me wish I could have heard it instead of minding a preschooler Jim often pulls things out and all together that makes me go AH>>> cool. oh...change, growth.... and such like. :)

I suppose though it is a comfort to know that it doesn't really matter about the rich...they do all eventually pass away. Things have a time and season. And I have everything that I need if I come to God in faith. He will supply all that I need. The rest is just chaff to blow away in the wind. I grew up on a farm....I know what the chaff dust looks like. It can make a body cough, and looks horrid on the wind, but once the wind dies down....it's just gone. Good to remember that. Good to remember that reliance on God is indeed where it is at for the believer.

Jim doesn't have it posted on line yet, when he does you'll find it at his page here. He's been a bit lax lately on this....but in time it will be there. :)