Title: The Pride of Christians
Contents
1. Words that begin
You never know when your life will change. Everyone faces a special kind of test that comes from going from poverty to abundance or from abundance to poverty. The Apostle James tells us that when we change from poverty to abundance, or from abundance to poverty, we encounter a very important test of faith. Therefore, as believers, we must realize that whenever a change in our lives occurs, God tests the sincerity of our faith.
Whether they believe in the Lord or not, those who belong to the lower classes are engulfed in inferiority and frustration, which kills other good possibilities, while those in the upper classes are caught up in superiority and pride, ruining their own lives and the lives of others. Considering these issues, the words of the text have a very important meaning.
2. Low Brother's Pride
First, the Apostle James exhorts, “The younger brother boasts of his highness.”
“Low” is tafenos (ταπειν??), which usually denotes a humble heart, here meaning 'the sick', 'those in tribulation', 'the poor', 'the lowly ones', etc. . Thus, “lower brother” does not generally refer to those of the lower classes, but to those of poor, ill, or low social status as Christians.
Often the poor are treated with contempt, and also live in self-deprecation and self-blame. Even Christians are no exception to being ashamed of poverty. However, Christianity gives the poor a new meaning of their worth. Muretus said, "No man can be said to be worthless, so long as Christ died for him."
No teaching or thought that exalts human worth can extend to the gospel of Christ. Didn't Christ acknowledge the worth of humanity to such an extent that he gave up all his glory as a god and even died on the cross? How can you appreciate the value of human beings more than this?
Only handsome people are precious to the Lord. No matter how heinous sinners, no matter how useless people, even those who have heard that it is better to die than to live like this, please believe that they are precious to God. Our Lord bore the cross of extreme suffering and extreme disgrace for such people.
Not only us who believe, but everyone should know the fact of this wonderful grace. So, you should no longer treat yourself as worthless. We must not corrupt ourselves with all kinds of iniquity and unrighteousness, lies and hypocrisy, pride and pride, flattery and flattery, etc. You must not make yourself so valuable as a slave to wealth, power, and honor.
Another meaning of “high” is a holy life that is led by the Holy Spirit. In fact, God's critical measure of life is not what you have accomplished, but how you live. It's not about how much you own, it's about how valuable you are. It's not about how superior you were to others, but how humble you were.
3. Proud of a wealthy brother
Next, the Apostle James warned, “A rich brother should boast in his lowliness, for it passes by like a flower of grass.”
Perhaps the greatest desire of almost everyone is bathing in water. People believe that all things can be solved if they have a lot of money, and they can fulfill all the wishes of their hearts. Therefore, they forsake friendship or love, even sell their own bodies or take the lives of others in order to gain wealth. I have seen, and I see, many times that even people who behave politely as public officials, leaders, moralists, and religious people lose neither character nor pride in front of money. For them, the meaning and purpose of life is to make money, so the parties will jump on their feet, but they have no choice but to live a life of slavery to money.
However, greed for wealth can never be satisfied with wealth. The writer of Ecclesiastes correctly understands, “He who loves silver is not satisfied with silver, and he who loves abundance is not satisfied with income. This is also vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Who dares to deny this statement?
Convinced that there is nothing necessary and nothing is impossible, they even become slaves to them, but they are helpless in gaining the precious things of life: friendship and love, righteousness and truth, freedom and spiritual joy, especially eternal life. Rather, it is often a great obstacle to obtaining them. The more worldly possessions, the more indifferent people are to spiritual things, and the more they lose their zeal for eternal life.
A good example is the rich young man who came to Jesus to receive eternal life. When the young man heard the words of Jesus, “Sell all that you have, and give it to the poor,” the young man died in great sorrow because he had so much wealth. Seeing this, Jesus said, “It is exceedingly difficult for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:23).
The Apostle Paul also warned, “The love of money is the root of all evil, and those who longed for it have been deceived, and have erred from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Therefore, instead of boasting about the wealth they have, the wealthy brothers should brag about their lowliness. Calvin said, "This warning applies to all who are better than their neighbors in status, birth, or other outward things."
“Humble” here means humility. In other words, the pride of riches and the proud heart that knew worldly possessions as glory should know the vainness of all worldly possessions, and boast of humility that is humbled before God. Not riches, but only the humility of believing and relying on God who saves mankind in the Lord should be the pride of the rich.
Another decisive reason for a rich brother to boast of humbleness is that it is vain that perishes like the flowers of all rich grass. “When the sun rises and a hot wind blows and dries up the grass, the flower falls and loses its beauty, and so will the rich perish in their works.” Thus the glory of the world's wealth is as fleeting as a lovely flower under the scorching sun. Therefore, we must let go of the folly of investing our entire lives in what we cannot have forever. The riches of the world are destined to depart from the hands of that person. The only things we can possess forever are the treasures of heaven.
The writer of Proverbs sharply points out the vanity of wealth. “How can you pay attention to futility? Surely riches will make wings and fly like an eagle in the sky” (Proverbs 23:5).
4. Conclusion
When we are humbled, we are prone to feelings of inferiority, frustration, and self-doubt. However, we should be able to boast of our height, that we have become children of God by the grace of the Lord, that we are living a sanctified life according to the Holy Spirit, and that God will exalt us to eternal life in the future.
When we are rich, instead of pride and pride, we should be able to boast of the humility of trusting and relying on God.
May we all live a life that boasts only the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Poongseong Methodist Church. Book: Complete Commentary on 27 New Testament Books/ Interpretation of Difficult Scriptures I, II/ Salvation Before Jesus Came/Paul’s Understanding of Humanity/ Prosperous Prayer/ Seasonal Sermonbooks/ Sermonbook 19. T. 426 -3051)