9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,

The Amplified Bible expands this a little for us and reads this way:

9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God];

This is a fascinating verse – the perspectives that we hold MUST be based in truth. A person in very humble circumstances may consider themselves to be a lessor person than someone who is, for example, wealthier. In fact James brings this comparison to the forefront with verse 10:

10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.

I love the passages in Isaiah 40 that James is quoting here – again from the Amplified Bible:

Isaiah 40:6-8

6 A voice says, Cry [prophesy]! And I said, What shall I cry? [The voice answered, Proclaim:] All flesh is as frail as grass, and all that makes it attractive [its kindness, its goodwill, its mercy from God, its glory and comeliness, however good] is transitory, like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely [all] the people are like grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

We need to have an accurate picture of who we really are – our value as people before a Holy God is not about being poor or rich – yes those things impact our natural worlds but the most important perspective is God’s Word and what the Word of the Lord says about people, how to treat them, how to interact with them and most importantly how to consider them.

Both poverty and riches bring circumstantial pressures. Both poverty and riches possess within them, a proclivity, or a tendency to often, somewhat effectively, redirect the persons focus away from God and more toward their own circumstances in the natural.

The person in lower circumstances needs to consider themselves in the light of God’s Word, then take God’s Word, renew their mind to the Scriptures and speak faith, act in faith trusting the Lord will honour that, support that and help them in that. I guarantee their circumstances will change.

The rich person must stay humble – profoundly grateful for that which the Lord has given them. They must understand that no one makes it out of this life alive, to strongly develop a reverential respect and fear of God, that they are “a fleshly version of grass” – very little longevity and desperately needing to focus on what they are about whilst the season is there. When it’s growing season the grass really get’s on with it – we have lots of hay farms here in Tasmania. The wealthy or materially rich person must realise that their wealth does not place them in a strategically advantageous position before God. That’s like saying to a billionaire “you need to be impressed with my $100”. No, the person that own the universe is not impressed with our worldly riches and the Lord is certainly NOT impressed when we place our faith and trust in those transient earthly, worldly riches.

Riches have predominantly four main purposes –

1. To alleviate or remove personal shortage – pay your own way
2. To bless and help others and alleviate suffering
3. To support the work of the Kingdom of God
4. To create positive, effective progress and blessings, multi-generationally

We are only here for such a short time – “All flesh is as frail as grass, and all that makes it attractive [its kindness, its goodwill, its mercy from God, its glory and comeliness, however good] is transitory, like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely [all] the people are like grass.

Think about your life as simply a season – you’re alive, able to work, communicate, think, be diligent, plan, strategise, execute those plans – your life whilst you are alive on the earth is just a season to make the very most of whilst you can!