Friday, February 04, 2011

Digging Deeper James 1:9 Points to Ponder

Have you been pondering James 1:9 this week? I hope you have also been reading the entire book of James as often as you can. You can probably read the entire book in 15 - 20 minutes. It is well worth the read. It will be our focus for 2011.

James 1:9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation (ESV)
James 1:9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (NKJV)
James 1:9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. (NIV)
James 1:9 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! (The Message)

Points to ponder:
I have to admit this took some serious pondering. At first glance it didn't make much sense to me. In the ESV it says "the lowly brother should boast..." yet elsewhere we are told "o that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' " 1 Corinthians 1:31 And then further, to boast in his exaltation. According to Webster, 'exaltation means an excessively intensified sense of well-being, power, or importance"1 So, I think we could say it means to be elevated. The NIV also gives a similar interpretation: "take pride in their high position."
What could this mean?

Here is a good example of the need to consider the whole counsel of God. "for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." Acts 20:27 If we considered this verse in isolation we could come to the conclusion that we should be so proud of our humility. But when we consider the context of the Bible we come to a very different consideration.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:6. Could our week's verse be saying that the humble brother should declare, exclaim, and proclaim the mighty work of God in his life? When God lifts him up, that He give glory, thanksgiving and praise to God for His work of grace in his life? In otherwords, isn't it possible that the boasting is not at all about self but rather God for what He has done in the life of a lowly brother (sister)?

Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.






1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaltation accessed 1.29.11

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