The Crown of Life
There is a place that I pass when I am driving to work where road crews have planted sunflowers in the median. A few weeks ago, these flowers were all in bloom. After a few weeks, they began to wilt and now they have been plowed over for a new planting to occur. James tells us in James 1:9-11, that the rich man is like those flowers. They might look glorious for a period of time, but they quickly fade away (1 Cor 7:31).
Rather than seeking to become rich, which leads to many problems (1 Timothy 6:9), the believer should seek the crown of life. The crown of life is the reward that God has promised to those who love him and persevere in the midst of trials (James 1:12). The word perseveres is the word hypomeno which means to remain, to endure. This idea began back in verses 2-5 when James said that the one who endures under trial builds endurance and character. This is a theme that runs throughout scripture that there is a purpose behind the trials of the believer. That God is doing something great and building character and the fruit of his spirit in the life of the believer when they resist the devil and personal lusts.
James wants to make it clear to the reader that God is not the source of the temptation. He clearly states, "God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt anyone." verse 13. Rather, it is the lust of the person that leads to sin and sin leads to death. Jesus said this in Matthew 15:19-20 that it is out of the heart that sins such as murder, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and slanders occur. Not a popular message today, but a true one. It doesn't make us feel good perhaps, but we need to understand where these tendencies come from.
Rather, God is the source of all good things. James said it this way, 'Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, whith whome there is no variation, or shifting shadow." James 1:17 By calling God the Father of lights he is mentioning God's purity and holiness. This is the same thing that John said in 1 John 1:5 "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." This means that God not only knows how to give good gifts, but all the good gifts we have are from Him. It also means that I can trust Him because he won't mislead me and isn't capable of giving me gifts that aren't good for me. This is a God that I can trust in because he is pure, holy and good.
What does it mean to you that God is light and there is no variation or shifting shadow in HIm? James 1:17
Why is it important to consider that the rich man will fade away like a flower? Where does that tell us our priorities should be?
Why is it important to remember that when we are tempted that God is not the one doing the tempting? Is it comforting to know that God cannot be tempted by evil?
Rather than seeking to become rich, which leads to many problems (1 Timothy 6:9), the believer should seek the crown of life. The crown of life is the reward that God has promised to those who love him and persevere in the midst of trials (James 1:12). The word perseveres is the word hypomeno which means to remain, to endure. This idea began back in verses 2-5 when James said that the one who endures under trial builds endurance and character. This is a theme that runs throughout scripture that there is a purpose behind the trials of the believer. That God is doing something great and building character and the fruit of his spirit in the life of the believer when they resist the devil and personal lusts.
James wants to make it clear to the reader that God is not the source of the temptation. He clearly states, "God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt anyone." verse 13. Rather, it is the lust of the person that leads to sin and sin leads to death. Jesus said this in Matthew 15:19-20 that it is out of the heart that sins such as murder, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and slanders occur. Not a popular message today, but a true one. It doesn't make us feel good perhaps, but we need to understand where these tendencies come from.
Rather, God is the source of all good things. James said it this way, 'Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, whith whome there is no variation, or shifting shadow." James 1:17 By calling God the Father of lights he is mentioning God's purity and holiness. This is the same thing that John said in 1 John 1:5 "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." This means that God not only knows how to give good gifts, but all the good gifts we have are from Him. It also means that I can trust Him because he won't mislead me and isn't capable of giving me gifts that aren't good for me. This is a God that I can trust in because he is pure, holy and good.
What does it mean to you that God is light and there is no variation or shifting shadow in HIm? James 1:17
Why is it important to consider that the rich man will fade away like a flower? Where does that tell us our priorities should be?
Why is it important to remember that when we are tempted that God is not the one doing the tempting? Is it comforting to know that God cannot be tempted by evil?
