Do I rejoice in my humiliation?
Yesterday
We zoomed in on ‘the brother of humble circumstances’.
Today
In contrast we want to peel back the layers about ‘the rich man’.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Let’s Pray
Lord, we come today to Your Word, knowing You will instruct and teach us properly. Lord we come asking that You give us ears to listen to Your counsel and accept discipline, so that we may be wise, (Isa 28:26; Pro 19:20). Thank you!
Now, LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha lead you in your discovery.
How will you get under way?
Begin by READING 
Read James 1:9-11 again, with the questioning mindset.
We’re taking small bites, so you don’t just read, but so you will digest and THINK.
Let’s focus on James 1:10-11.
Does James refer to the rich man as a brother?
What are the rich to do?
Why?
What is the rich man compared to?
What is James point?
What is the rich man’s end? Why?
Let’s Understand What God is Saying!
Unlock the Meaning 
Why don’t we unlock 
the rich man and humiliation.
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
Dictionary Tutorial >What does rich and humiliation mean?
It’s just a tap away!
TIP: Remember to put the definitions back into the text.
v10 “…and the rich [wealthy] man is to glory [rejoice] in his humiliation [humbling, being made low],”
THINK: God often uses opposition and suffering that brings humiliation, to teach us humility.
Understand: Riches, money, WILL NOT buy us out of humiliation.
LISTEN…
How are my trials humbling me?
How have I been humiliated?
Did such humiliation cause me to run to God, depend upon God?
Am I boasting, rejoicing, in my humiliation?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
v11 “. . .so too the rich [wealthy] man in the midst of his pursuits [in James 1:11 it means a course or manner of life], will fade away.”
Understand: Riches, money, CANNOT buy security.
LISTEN…
Am I in the midst of pursuing God, with my hope and security in Him?
Or, am I in the midst of my pursuits, with my security in riches, my bank account, and stuff?
How can I break down the walls of such false security that will fade away?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Let Truth Explain Truth About
The Rich
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Let’s see what GODcha suggests!
Remember: THINK and REASON, by asking the 5W’s and H questions.
1st, LOOK at Other References in James.
What does James tell us the rich had done?
a. The rich dishonored the poor man; oppressed the poor; dragged the poor to court. (Jam 2:6-7)
We see: James condemns the rich that take advantage of the poor.
LISTEN…
How do I honor and help the poor in my church family?
Or, do I dishonor those who are less fortunate than me?
Have I ever taken advantage of the poor?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
b. The Rich had: Stored up their treasures; Robbed their laborers. (Jam 5:1-6)
We see: The Rich misused their riches.
LISTEN…
How am I using my riches?
Am I guilty of misusing my wealth?
Am I storing up my treasures?
Have I robbed those who work with me, or for me?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Now, LOOK outside of James.
1. What does Proverbs tell us about the rich?
a. Wealth can be a blessing. (Pro 10:4)
b. If trust in riches instead of God, you will fall. (Pro 11:28)
c. Riches can’t buy us out of our troubles, our trials – riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. (Pro 11:4)
Understand: Riches, money, CANNOT buy us out of death.
LISTEN…
Do I really trust in God?
Or, am I trusting in my riches?
What am I counting on to deliver me from death?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
2. What is Timothy’s warning?
a. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires plunge them into ruin and destruction. (1Ti 6:9)
LISTEN…
Do I want to get rich?
How has that desire caused me to fall into temptation?
How have those temptations, plunged me into ruin and destruction?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
b. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1Ti 6:10)
LISTEN…
Has the love of money caused me to do all sorts of evil?
Has that desire caused me to wander from the faith?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
3. What does Matthew tell us about a rich man?
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Mat 19:24)
4. According to Acts, what did the early church, rich or poor do?
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. (Act 2:44-45)
LISTEN…
Am I ready and willing to share with those in my church family who have a need?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
5. Does God choose us according to our economic status?
The way God chooses and saves us removes all boasting in ourselves. All we can do is glory and boast in the Lord. (1Co 1:26-31)
LISTEN…
What do I boast in?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Let’s Bring It Home!
What Can We Take Away?
Sum It Up!
We LEARN:
Being Rich
Is NOT wrong.
It can be a blessing.
We LEARN:
The Rich Man
Is NOT to trust in riches.
Riches cannot extend life or deliver one from death.
Riches can be a snare, tempting one to trust in his riches and not God.
The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, causing the rich to wander from the faith.
Is NOT to oppress the poor and not to misuse his riches.
Is To Share with those in need.
Is To Rejoice in their humbling, of being made low, before the Lord, realizing they will pass away.
If the rich man continues in his pursuits, instead of God’s, he will fade away.
Rich or Poor, glory, boast, rejoice in the Lord.
We see: A strong reminder to the rich (the wealthy) that permanence is not found in the material things of this world.
We see: Because of CONTEXT, this could be talking about a rich man who is not a ‘brother’, thus, this one does not have faith.
We see: The rich who trust in their riches will be humbled to trust in Christ, and depend on God, thus, glory in their humiliation.
Our Day Has Come To An End!
Reflect on all the Lord has taught you about the rich man and the poor brother.
Trials bring both the rich and poor to the same level on the playing field.
Trials Make:
The poor forget their worldly destitution, and
The rich to forget their worldly riches.
Both, poor and rich, are being humbled in their trials to trust NOT in riches, in the stuff of this world, but to trust in the Lord and the riches He provides!
All the stuff in the world can not buy what we need spiritually!
Journal Your Discovery in Your Notes
Yes, I put these truths into my Notes in GODcha, saved forever, and I can go back and review anyplace, anywhere, any time!
Video Tutorial > Notes Tutorial>
And I jot what I learn in my hardbound Bible too!
Let’s Turn What We Learned into Prayer
Perhaps…
OH GRACIOUS FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN, may we have Your perspective no matter if we are of humble circumstances or rich. Father, please forgive us for boasting in anything but You! Help us all to see our spiritual poverty – that being our need of You, and a Savior, the Lord Jesus. May we glory in our humiliation, that You have opened our eyes to the vanity of worldly wealth. May You help us this day to see the difference between the permanent and the perishable. That true riches are found only in You. If materially rich, oh Father, lead us not into temptation and the snare of trusting in our riches, thus wandering from the faith. If we have wandered from the faith, oh may we turn back to You Lord. May we not be caught up in the worldly pursuits, but glory in You, and our position in You! May we have that humble spirit that trusts not in our riches but only in You and Your provision. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen!
You’re doing GREAT!
Next: we will unfold James 1:12, LOOKING @ ‘the reward for perseverance’.
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