A Humble Spirit

Friday, May 19, 2017

In this passage, James addresses Christians who fall into two categories: the brother of humble circumstances and the brother identified as "the rich man." James first addresses "the brother of humble circumstances” who was economically poor and represented most of the persecuted Jewish believers to whom he wrote. From the context of persecution, these believers had once been at least somewhat well-off financially, but had their homes, property, and possessions confiscated, or had to leave them behind, when fleeing from prosecutors. At this time, their most common lot was poverty. Despite that circumstance, such a believer was to glory in his high position. "Glory'' (kauchaomai) is often translated "rejoice" or "boast." In such circumstances, a Christian may be considered "the scum of the earth, the dregs of all things" (1Cor4:13) in the eyes of the world, but in God’s eyes, he is exalted. Beloved, there is a legitimate form of pride that even the most destitute Christian can have, for as a child of God, he as been elevated to a “high position.”

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