Monthly Archives: April 2025

James: Rich/ Poor — Just Jesus!

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“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 withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Today we read James 1)

There is a saying, “He who has the biggest toys at the end wins.” Not so! Riches will fade. Also, those who lack riches should not look at their circumstances as disqualifying them from serving God. Life is not about the abundance of money or the lack thereof. True life is about Jesus!

The words “take pride” in these verses means to exult. Which is defined as “Properly, to leap for joy; hence, to rejoice in triumph; to rejoice exceedingly, at success or victory; to be glad above measure; to triumph.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) Whatever our material position in life we are to rejoice in our true position “in Jesus!”

The one who lacks material possessions is given much opportunity to see the faithful provision of their God and to rejoice in Jesus! The one with an abundance of material possessions has also been given much opportunity to see the faithful provision of their God as well. They are to rejoice in Him!

Whatever circumstance we are in rich or poor, our lives are to be about Jesus! He is all that really matters!

James: Life of Stability, Wisdom, and Faith

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(Join me in reading chapter 1 of James each day this week)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is all-knowing. There isn’t any circumstance or situation where God is surprised and says, “Wow!! I didn’t see that coming!?!?” He knows our past. He knows our present. And He knows where He is taking us in the future!

Biblical wisdom is God’s knowledge taken into our hearts through His Word and then applied in our lives. When we are up against something that we are unsure of what to do, we need to ask God for His wisdom. God will give us the exact response we need through His Word and show us how to apply it by faith!

When we do ask and He speaks to us on how to apply the knowledge He has give us in His Word, we need to believe what He has spoken! If we waver on whether or not we will believe that His Word is true and that God is faithful to do what He says He will do, we will be “blown and tossed” by the winds of unbelief and fear. We won’t receive what God intended to give to us — His peace, His goodness, His faithfulness, etc. What we will receive is instability in our lives.

Our focus must be Knowing God intimately through His Word. Then He will enable us to apply His Word to each and every circumstance of our lives i.e. “walk in His wisdom.”

Ask for wisdom! Believe the Word! Live in stability and peace!

James — Consider It Pure Joy

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(Join me in reading chapter 1 of James each day this week)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nothing is wasted in our lives. Trials and testing of our faith helps us to mature. In fact, it is what God uses to make us “complete, not lacking anything.”

Perseverance in the Greek is defined as “Endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for, cheerful endurance, constancy.”

My youngest son has spent quite a bit of time at the gym working on body building. He has told me that building muscle actually requires tearing of muscle fibers that is rebuilt by our bodies in a stronger form. Our spiritual muscles are similar. Testing of our faith through trials can produce a cheerful endurance because we know the end result will be a closer relationship with Jesus.

If you are going through a trial, God is always at work in it! You and I are meant to “consider it pure joy!” In the end our relationship with God will be stronger! Trials build “spiritual muscle” that we all need in order to “not {be} lacking anything.”

Philippians — God’s Family

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Day 2 of Philippians 1 !!

Today verse 3- 7 are standing out to me.

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart…”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As I read them, the question— “Who’s your tribe?”, keeps coming to my mind.

Tribe is defined as “family.” Paul had his “spiritual family” or “tribe.” He prayed joyfully for them. They had a “partnership in the gospel.” They worked together to make Jesus known! Paul even spoke of his deep feelings of affection for them. He said he had them in his heart.

We are not meant to go it alone! God designed us for relationship, not only with Him, but with each other.

Who is it that you share your life in Jesus with? Who do you pray for? Who prays for you?

If you lack spiritual family (i.e. God’s family)in your life, where do you need to connect to experience it?