James 1:9-11, NIV:
"Believers in humble circumstances
ought to take pride in their high position.
But the rich should take pride in their humiliation--
since they will pass away like a wild flower.
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant;
its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.
In the same way,
the rich will fade away
even while they go about their business."
"Believers in humble circumstances
ought to take pride in their high position.
But the rich should take pride in their humiliation--
since they will pass away like a wild flower.
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant;
its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.
In the same way,
the rich will fade away
even while they go about their business."
BarbTalk:
This has always been an intriguing concept to me. Humble have a high position, the rich are to take pride in their humiliation. This is how the Amplified Bible (gives better understanding to the Greek in which the New Testament was written, with its unique tenses and words that encompass many meanings) translates this same passage:
This has always been an intriguing concept to me. Humble have a high position, the rich are to take pride in their humiliation. This is how the Amplified Bible (gives better understanding to the Greek in which the New Testament was written, with its unique tenses and words that encompass many meanings) translates this same passage:
James 1:9-11, AMP
"Let the brother in humble circumstances
glory in his high position
[as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God];
and the rich man is to glory in being humbled
[by trials revealing human frailty,
knowing true riches are found in the grace of God],
for like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass;
its flower falls off and [a]its beauty fades away;
so too will the rich man,
in the midst of his pursuits, fade away."
Perhaps the Amplified Bible gives a little more understanding. In God's eyes we are all the same. He does not look in our pocket books but He looks into our hearts. Are we rich in good deeds? Are we wealthy in love and kindness? Those of us who live in the San Francisco Bay Area understand the division between the wealthy and the poor. The cost of housing in our area is ridiculous.
The question I have for myself is this: Upon what are my eyes fixed?
Do I love my possessions and use people, or do I love people and use my possessions. I hope that I walk in the latter, it is my goal. Especially when times are tough, it is easy to want to hide, but God calls us to look at those around us, and see where we can be of service, and He calls us not to wallow in our own self-pity sessions.
BarbDigression:
We put our beautiful Walnut Seed of the Devil Berens to sleep Thursday after almost 20 years of enjoying her presence as the cat with the largest personality we have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Riches don't mean much when a dear one dies. You would give anything for them to be back healthy again. So many have discussed with me whether cats will be in heaven with us.
I believe the words of Jesus recorded in John 14:1-3:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am."
If Jesus is preparing a place just for me in His Father's house, He would know that I would love to have kitties with me. So all of them will be there, and, because it is heaven, they will all get along. Nuff said.
BarbRamblesOn:
Back to looking at upon what are our eyes fixed. God looks at our hearts. He also tells us that what is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. There are a lot of terrible things coming out of people's mouths lately. Ugly things, insensitive and obnoxious things are poured out as if they are a good thing. So what is in my heart? How do I respond? Do I see others as children of God, on equal standing with me, no matter how they look, sound and act? It is not for me to judge, yet this generation does plenty of that.
If my eyes are fixed upon society, the election, on things and riches, then I will be totally lost. So as someone that lives in the richest country in the world, I plead with God to help me see people for who they are, not what they have.
I like the way the Life Application Study Bible Notes explains this passage:
"The poor should be glad that riches mean nothing to God; otherwise these people would be considered unworthy. The rich should be glad that money means nothing to God, because money is easily lost. We find true wealth by developing our spiritual life, not by developing our financial assets. God is interested in what is lasting (our souls), not in what is temporary (our money and possessions)."
I am all over the place this morning. But as I sit here listening to my favorite song this week, You Make Me Brave, I see that with all that is flying around me, my heart is His. He makes me brave. He also humbles me and allows me to go through things that will remove more of the chaff from the wheat. He wants me to understand that He is in charge, and He has laid out instructions for me to follow. He wants me to act like, speak and be His child, no matter my circumstance, or the circumstance of others. I am to look with His eyes, feel with His heart, and reach out with His love and compassion. There is no place in the Kingdom of God for prejudice, or favoritism, or self interest. We are to look at others as having dignity and grace, no matter their life stage.
All this reminds me that I still have a long way to go. Lord, thank You for turning up the heat so that you can boil the impurities out of me, and when they are gone, I will reflect You.
The question I have for myself is this: Upon what are my eyes fixed?
Do I love my possessions and use people, or do I love people and use my possessions. I hope that I walk in the latter, it is my goal. Especially when times are tough, it is easy to want to hide, but God calls us to look at those around us, and see where we can be of service, and He calls us not to wallow in our own self-pity sessions.
BarbDigression:
We put our beautiful Walnut Seed of the Devil Berens to sleep Thursday after almost 20 years of enjoying her presence as the cat with the largest personality we have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Riches don't mean much when a dear one dies. You would give anything for them to be back healthy again. So many have discussed with me whether cats will be in heaven with us.
I believe the words of Jesus recorded in John 14:1-3:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am."
If Jesus is preparing a place just for me in His Father's house, He would know that I would love to have kitties with me. So all of them will be there, and, because it is heaven, they will all get along. Nuff said.
BarbRamblesOn:
Back to looking at upon what are our eyes fixed. God looks at our hearts. He also tells us that what is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. There are a lot of terrible things coming out of people's mouths lately. Ugly things, insensitive and obnoxious things are poured out as if they are a good thing. So what is in my heart? How do I respond? Do I see others as children of God, on equal standing with me, no matter how they look, sound and act? It is not for me to judge, yet this generation does plenty of that.
If my eyes are fixed upon society, the election, on things and riches, then I will be totally lost. So as someone that lives in the richest country in the world, I plead with God to help me see people for who they are, not what they have.
I like the way the Life Application Study Bible Notes explains this passage:
"The poor should be glad that riches mean nothing to God; otherwise these people would be considered unworthy. The rich should be glad that money means nothing to God, because money is easily lost. We find true wealth by developing our spiritual life, not by developing our financial assets. God is interested in what is lasting (our souls), not in what is temporary (our money and possessions)."
I am all over the place this morning. But as I sit here listening to my favorite song this week, You Make Me Brave, I see that with all that is flying around me, my heart is His. He makes me brave. He also humbles me and allows me to go through things that will remove more of the chaff from the wheat. He wants me to understand that He is in charge, and He has laid out instructions for me to follow. He wants me to act like, speak and be His child, no matter my circumstance, or the circumstance of others. I am to look with His eyes, feel with His heart, and reach out with His love and compassion. There is no place in the Kingdom of God for prejudice, or favoritism, or self interest. We are to look at others as having dignity and grace, no matter their life stage.
All this reminds me that I still have a long way to go. Lord, thank You for turning up the heat so that you can boil the impurities out of me, and when they are gone, I will reflect You.
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