James 1:9-11 – Humility and Exaltation

 James 1:9-11 – Humility and Exaltation
 

“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” (NIV)

 

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with it scorching heat and withers grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” (ESV)

 

This Scripture is a reminder of the following two proverbs:

 

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 (NIV) And, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Proverbs 16:18-19 (NIV) The ESV uses the same language in each passage.

 

And Jesus said, as recorded in Luke 14:11, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

 

The “humble circumstances” is referring to those without physical wealth as it is a contrast of the following image – “the rich.” (Humble circumstances as a result of Roman oppression or by the rich within their own community.) However, there is also spiritual parallel. The humble are those who have been exalted by God (see Luke 14:11). The rich are those who will be humbled, by God (also see Luke 14:11). James is not saying that it is wrong to have physical wealth; there were Christians in the First Century – Barnabas, Cornelius, Aquila and Priscilla, and Philemon to name a few – who were wealthy. The important message James relays is how a rich person treats others with that wealth and how they present themselves – with pride or humility – both physically and in spirit of heart and mind (i.e.: attitude). Each person listed above used their wealth to further the Kingdom of God in humility which was a focus on the spiritual – “the concerns of God.” (See Matthew 16:23b)

 

The NIV uses the word “pride” which is not the kind of pride that self-exalts. Christians can boast (as the ESV uses), in Jesus for the position he has given. And it is a high position as Christians are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ [Jesus]…” (Romans 8:17) Jesus suffered while on this planet – both in his ministry and on the cross – and he did so out of love. As followers of Jesus, the Christian should also consider it “pure joy … whenever [faced with] trials of many kinds.” – just as our “joint heir” did. It was a way for James to remind us of our connection with Jesus who humbled himself in the greatest of manner – on the cross. “… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)

 

A quick note regarding “…since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” In the region surrounding Jerusalem, there were and are wildflowers that bloom in the late spring but quickly fade during the heat of the summer. James uses this image to show how quickly the haughty will fade in their foolishness. In contrast, wisdom comes from humility. (Proverbs 11:2)

 

The Scriptures are laced with many examples of its warning against pride. Here is a reminder of a few (Italics and Bold added to show the parallel).

 

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation.”

 

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

 

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”

 

 “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

 

Whether in physical wealth or not, may we as Christians be humble as our joint heir Jesus was humble. And in doing so, he will exalt you. 

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