Skip to main content

James 1:11

For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
(NIV)
The reality that is being taught here is not just directed at the rich. As the Psalmist says,
You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.
Psalm 39:5 (NIV)
This applies to us all. Our lives are passing so quickly, and our glory should not be in what we accomplish here. A big house, an established retirement account, a new car, even our kid's educations paid for! All of these things are temporary. One day you will breathe your last and these things will all be gone.

Let your glory be in Christ. Let your glory be in what He has done in you. Don't glory in what you can make with your own hands. If you do, then you are no different than an idol maker who sits and carves out his idol, then turns around and bows to it.

Even the poor man shouldn't glory in his lack of goods. There are some like that who talk about how they don't have all of that stuff, and speak about the new cars and the big house like they were worldly in and of themselves. You are missing the point if you are saying that.

It is all about Jesus Christ. It is all for His glory. Everything in our lives should point to Him.

Comments

  1. YES BOAST IN THE LORD AND NOT OURSELVES. IT BLESSES THE DADDY HEART OF GOD WHEN WE BRAG ON THE THINGS HE DOES FOR US....EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT COMES FROM HIM! HE IS SO GOOD TO HIS CHILDREN!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please add some additional commentary to this verse. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Popular posts from this blog

Jonah 2:10

And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (NIV) Don't you just love fresh starts. They're not always fresh, but they are a start. The God that we serve is a God of fresh starts. My mind goes to the many times that Christ reached out his hand, pulling a lame man to his feet, and saying, "...now go and sin no more." Or the woman caught in adultery, "...neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." Only a God of grace will allow a swallowed man to repent. Praise Him.

Galatians 5:25

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Wow, this is a really cool verse. Once again, there is a phrase in here that I have never noticed before. The part that says, "...let us keep in step..." It makes me think of a dance. The spirit leads, and I stay in step. When that happens, it is beautiful.

James 3:18

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (NIV) Does this verse fit with the rest? It almost seems like a little addendum to the main point. If we look at it alone, it makes total sense... a peacemaker, who would sow in peace, because he is a peacemaker, will reap a harvest of righteousness. Very similar to Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount . If we look at it in the context, it still makes sense, but in the bigger picture of heavenly wisdom. Peace-making is a sign of true wisdom that is from above.