Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Today’s lesson will be our final part on the topic of trial before we move to the next passage.

First: You are slowly getting older every second of your life.

Second: You belongings will slowly become useless.

Third: Life is temporary

Fourth: You will eventually die.

Today’s lesson will be our final part on the topic of trial before we move to the next passage.

You may remember that one of the purposes of James is to offer instruction to the Christians who were experiencing trials.

James gives the suffering Christians a realistic perspective on life and trial.

But, in this passage, James gives the suffering Christians a realistic perspective on life as it is.

Back in verses 2-4, James teaches us the types of trials, the attitude of trials, and the advantage of trials.

Last week, in verses 5-8, James talked about obtaining wisdom in the midst of trial.

To receive wisdom, we need to ask God in faith.

Big Idea: To triumph through trials, you must have God’s eternal perspective on the poor and rich.

If you remember back in verse 5, if we lack wisdom, then we are to ask God, right?

Here’s God’s wisdom that James is going to teach us.

James is going to be dealing with the things that do not last forever, and the things that do last forever.

And until you learn what is temporary and what is permanent, you will struggle to triumph through trials.

Whether poor or rich, if you get caught in trying to find significance and richness in this world, then you will miss out on God’s true blessings for your life and you will be foolish instead of wise.

And so...

Big Idea: To triumph through trials, you need God’s eternal perspective on life.

You must see life as temporary

From God’s perspective, this life is temporary.

Therefore:

This life is temporary.

Therefore:

Life is temporary.

Therefore:

1. Poor Christians must boast in their eternal richness in Christ.

(v.9)

You must see your insignificance as temporary (v.9)

James begins addressing to the Christians who are lowly.

James seems to be making a reference to the socio-economical status of this brother.

Christians living in the Roman Empire were predominantly poor.

In , Luke tells us that there was a famine that happened.

Being poor is extremely difficult.

You usually lack money, food, clothings, and a home to live.

Not only that, you’re usually looked down upon and marginalized in society.

A famine simply means that there was an extreme lack of resources and food in an area.

And this famine happened sometime in AD 45-46, After the famine, James wrote his letter.

But, being a poor Christian is not the same as the way we see poor people in society.

In the New Testament, these Christians learn to serve each other, provide for each others needs, and still offered whatever money is left to help other believers.

Paul also tells us that he brought gifts to help aid the Christians in Jerusalem.

So, James commands the poor Christian to boast in his exaltation.

You might be wondering, “Wait, Tommy, why is James commanding the Christians to boast?

I thought boasting was a sin, right?

In fact, doesn’t say boasting is evil?”

According to the Bible, what is boasting?

Boasting - to speak with pride or to take pride in something.

There are two ways to view boasting in the Bible: negative and positive.

The Bible views boasting negatively.

Negatively:

Pride and boasting are generally a sin.

It is usually in the context of being prideful of self and bragging upon your life.

The Bible views boasting positively:

Positively:

There is a pride and boasting that honours God.

It is usually in the context of trusting God, knowing Him and what He has done.

In this case, James is talking about a positive boasting.

The object of boasting is in his exaltation.

And the word exaltation literally means “high position.”

James talks about God exalting those who are humble.

It is God who exalts and lifts up the lowly, poor, humble, and insignificant to a high position.

What does “exaltation” or “high position” mean?

explains what this means.

explains what this exaltation means.

I won’t explain too much on what “rich in faith” and “heirs of the kingdom” mean, but all you need to know about this “exaltation” is that those who are Christians have been adopted into the family of God, they are a holy nation, God has written their names in heaven.

and they will receive the crown of life.

All those things are found in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

You might not be financially poor, but you can be spiritually poor (if you own an iPhone X then you are not financially poor).

You may not be financially poor.

The bad news is that sinners are spiritually poor, sinful and have fallen short of the glory of God.

The spiritually poor are those who are heading towards destruction, hell, and damnation.

If you’re not a follower of Christ, then you need to know that you are spiritually bankrupt.

You have absolutely nothing in you that can buy your way to heaven.

Therefore...