James 1:12 [12] “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” The word “blessed” in our verse is the same word used in Matthew five. This word can mean, “to make large”, or “to be happy”. However, it also carries a deeper meaning. It is used to describe an inner joy and satisfaction. The word “endure” carries the idea of waiting, or exercising great patience. It means, “to bear up courageously”. Here we see a beatitude for the child …
“Where Are They Now?”
James 1:11 [11] “For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” I recently read an article about the top 20 richest men who died in 2020. Among them were names such as: Joseph Safra (Brazilian citizen), who died in December at the age of 82, with a net worth of $23.2 billion; Whitney MacMillan (U.S. citizen), who died in March at the age of 90, with a net worth of …
“How the Rich Become Poor”
James 1:10 [10] “But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.” Poverty is not a sign of spirituality, any more than riches are a sign of sinfulness. This is not how the Lord measures men, and we should not either. Evil men are going to practice their evil ways regardless of whether they are rich or poor. A child of God that is right with his Heavenly Father will serve him, whether he is rich or poor. However, we must not be fooled by riches. The only real …
“Treasures Unseen”
James 1:9 [9] “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:” James is encouraging these Jewish believers to look beyond their earthly standing and focus on their eternal standing. Persecution had driven many of them from their wealth and security. They had lost their jobs, their possessions, and their homes. They had become “brothers of low degree”. They were people of humble circumstances. The word “low” means “low estate”. Poverty was the common denominator among most of them, but they had riches that money could not buy. They had treasures unseen! Though their earthly treasures were …