Introduction
Expectation was in the air at the army hospital tent. A group of ladies had arrived reportedly bringing all the comforts of home – sweets, blankets, books, etc. Frank and Mike, both double-amputees, were especially looking forward to the treats they were anticipating as a diversion for the long hours in bed. Finally, one of the ladies reached their corner and greeted the boys with a friendly smile and welcome. As she began pulling a thick, handmade blanket over Mike’s bed, a look of disappointment spread across his face. “I didn’t think of it till just now, ma’am, but I haven't any money, and my folks ain’t rich. I suppose you’ll have to pass on me.” With a bright face, the lady continued serving him. “Oh, that’s all right,” she told him. “We don’t want your money, we just want to thank you for what you’ve done for our country.” A minute later as she was giving them soap, Frank told her softly, “I don’t know what you brought but I have money and I am happy to spend it to get the best.” With a little chuckle the lady handed him the same soap she’d just given Mike. “We don’t want your money, we just want to thank you for what you’ve done for our country.” “Oh, and by the way,” she added with twinkling eyes and a reassuring smile to Mike, “we’re giving everyone the best.” James 1:9-11 instructs all people to rejoice – the poor in being exalted and the rich in being humbled. Study the passage to understand how God thinks about riches and how He exalts poor while humbling rich.
Observation
Pray
Ask the Lord to help you understand His Word and believe it, laying aside anything false you may believe so that you can think and live as He desires.
Read Focus Verses
Read James 1:9-11 and consider what theme ties these verses together.
Theme
What theme or main idea ties these three verses together?
Key Idea - Money
Marking the words that relate to money will help them stand out as the theme.
Money, offering, price, rich, riches, tithe, wages
Riches
Mark the words that speak of riches and their relationship to people in James 1:9-11
Less
What is the financial situation of the person first addressed in today's passage?
Do
What is this believer to do?
Why Rejoice?
Why are they to rejoice?
More
What is the financial situation of the person addressed secondly in today's passage?
Do
What is this believer to do (hint the action word is assumed and carried over from the last verse)?
Rejoice
In what are they to rejoice?
Explanation
What explanation is given at the end of verse 10 to explain this rejoicing?
Natural Example
What example from the created world does God use to help us understand what He is trying to teach us about riches?
Example Applied
How does God apply this example to the case of the wealthy person?
Summary
Summarize this passage in your own words.
Interpretation
Don't Discriminate
The book of James has two other passages that deal with people and their money. Read the next in James 2:1-9.
Evil Riches
James 5:1-6 speaks of people and their money also.
The Rich
What do these passages say about most rich people in relationship to God's people?
Exalted and Humbled
Luke 1:52 expresses a similar truth to today's passage.
God
What do today's passage and Luke 1:52 teach us about God?
A Gift of Riches
Read the story in 1 Kings 3:3-15 to put today's passage in proper perspective.
The Lord's Blessing
Now read Job 42:12.
Whose Gift
Who gave these men fabulous wealth according to the Bible?
No Evil
With that in mind, read James 1:13-17.
God's Gifts
Will God give evil gifts or gifts that force people to sin according to James 1:13-17?
God's Money
Based on Scripture and the biblical answers to these last two questions, are riches sinful?
The Real Problem
1 Timothy 6:10 reveals what the real problem is.
Root of all Evil
What is the real problem?
Two Masters
The Lord Jesus puts it bluntly in Luke 16:13.
In Real Life
We see this played out in real life in Mark 10:17-27. Notice especially what Jesus says about how that young man thought about his money in verse 24.
Stumbling Block
Why can riches get in the way of people becoming true Christians according to these verses?
Problems Both Ways
Proverbs 30:8-9 warns us against assuming poverty or riches are better and without their troubles.
Lack and Abundance
Consider Paul's example in Philippians 4:10-19.
Poverty
Are poverty or riches better according to Scripture?
God's Thoughts
Psalm 62:9 reminds us how God thinks of rich and poor.
Any Difference
Does God put any difference in His estimation of rich or poor? In other words, does one merit more favor with Him than the other?
Salvation
In summary of these passages, does the Bible teach that people who have or lack money are any different or receive special or different treatment from God?
Viewpoints
Does a person have to have a lot of money in the world's eyes to think like those God condemns for their view of money?
Provision
How are the poor exalted? Deuteronomy 15:11 tells us one of the ways.
Protection
Proverbs 17:5 tells us of another way.
Special Notice
In Luke 21:1-4 we see another way the poor are exalted by God.
Exalted
What are some of the ways God exalts the poor?
No Less
God's eternal provision for the poor is no less than that for the rich in 2 Corinthians 8:9.
Inheritance
Both are equal partakers of the inheritance in 1 Peter 1:3-5.
In and Out
1 Timothy 6:7 tells us that the rich in this life will have no head start in the next life because of their money.
Treasures
Matthew 6:19-21 speaks of treasures even the poorest can store up.
Eternal Perspective
How does this eternal perspective shed light on the exaltation of the poor?
Flipped Around
How does this eternal perspective shed light on the humbling of the rich?
In the Face of Death
Psalm 49:6-19 puts in sobering perspective the true value of wealth when you come to face death.
No Profit
It is repeated in Proverbs 11:4.
The Whole World
The Lord Jesus summarizes it in Matthew 16:26.
Choked Out
Matthew 13:22 warns that riches can choke the spiritual life of a person.
Not Forever
Proverbs 27:24 reminds us of the temporality of riches.
Uncertain Riches
1 Timothy 6:17-19 highlights the uncertainty of riches.
Passing Away
1 John 2:15-17 explains this further.
That Which Satisfies
Notice how Isaiah 55:1-2 teaches that money cannot buy what will truly satisfy.
Humbled
What are some of the ways God humbles the rich?
Wings
Scripture speaks frequently of the fleeting nature of riches like today's passage does. Notice the imagery in Proverbs 23:5.
Grass
Psalm 103:15 sounds a lot like verses 10-11 of today's passage.
Withering
Isaiah 40:6-8 uses this same imagery to describe our lives.
Perspective
How does this truth put perspective on the value of riches?
Glorying
In Jeremiah 9:23-24 we see what is more important than riches.
Wisdom
Notice what Proverbs 3:13-16 says is more important than riches.
Again
Proverbs 16:16 says the same thing.
Can't Buy It
Job 28:15 reveals that the rich cannot buy wisdom.
Seeking
While Proverbs 2:1-5 shows us that the poor may have it for the seeking.
Instruction
Proverbs 8:10 tells us of another thing that is more valuable than riches.
Than Fine Gold
1 Peter 1:6-9 names another thing more precious than gold.
A Good Name
In Proverbs 22:1 we see another of these things more precious than riches.
A Just Tongue
Proverbs 10:20 tells us of another thing riches can't buy.
God's Word
Psalm 119:72 lists another of these treasures.
God's Commandments
In Psalm 119:127 we see this again.
The Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 13:44-46 also tells us about something worth more than all the riches of the world.
More Important
What things are more important than riches?
Equalizer
How do these things and the way they can be found by anyone and yet cannot be purchased with money exalt the poor and humble the rich?
All Loss
In Philippians 3:8 we see that the Christian counts everything loss for Christ.
Knowing
Hebrews 10:32-34 explains why Christians hold their riches - many or few - lightly and are willing to part with them to confess Christ.
Mindset
What is the mindset of a believer toward God and money whether they are rich or poor?
Summary Revisited
Now that you have studied what the Bible says about the topic, reread your summary from earlier. Do you need to change or update any of it to properly reflect what today's passage is teaching us as explained by comparing it with the rest of God's Word?
Application
With Little
Do you consider yourself as having less of this world's goods? How do these passages challenge you to think of yourself not as poor, but to rejoice in God's exalting you?
With Much
Do you consider yourself to have more of the world's goods? How do these passages challenge you to not pride yourself in being rich, but to rejoice in God's humbling you?
Eternal Riches
Whether you are poor or rich in this world's goods, how is your heavenly bank account?
Store Up Treasure
What has this study challenged you today to begin to do to store up treasures in heaven of some of those things more valuable than gold?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study has helped you understand how God thinks about riches and challenged you to store up treasures in heaven.
Feedback
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