Title: Pride of the Lowliest/James 1:9
Content: The pride of the lowly/James 1:9
“The younger brother boasts of his highness” (James 1:9).
In life, there are times when you rise high and there are times when you fall. There are moments of success and moments of failure. At this time, life loses its stability and shakes to and fro, experiencing life's motion sickness. The same goes for spiritual sickness. There are times when we experience spiritual motion sickness that fluctuates between gratitude and discouragement as our faith is influenced by people's praise and circumstances.
Today's text urges us not to be shaken by the ups and downs of such a life and to have God's wisdom. In a word, this wisdom is that both the lowly and the rich should live proudly. No matter where you are, don't brag about the world's vain things, but be 'true boasting'. So, what should we be proud of?
The text says, “The lowly one boasts of his highness.” This isn't about being proud, it's about being proud of yourself. The "Easy Bible" translates, "If you are poor, be proud that God has made you spiritually rich." The lowly ones should boast in God.
There are people who are withdrawn because of their shortcomings, such as appearance or academic background. However, the problem is not the lack of it, but the wrong view of oneself. Rather, because of my shortcomings, I can be humble, and through that humility, God's great grace and power can be added, so that lowly people can boast of God.
When we find ourselves in poverty or human dissatisfaction, Satan uses it to discourage us and make us feel inferior. But God helps us to open our eyes to the eternal things of the kingdom of God through it. So rather, he exalts me through it.
Don't be discouraged just because you're poor or not enough. God who is with the weak brings great blessings that cannot be compared with the things of the world. He provides abundantly what we need. Dear saints, are you lowly? Or are you poor? Or are you sick or weak? I bless you in the name of the Lord so that you can live a life that is exalted only by praising God.