To read the rest of A Journey through James 1, start HERE.
James 1:9-10
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.
At first glance, these verses seem to contain a lot of contradictions. Humble circumstances equal a high position? Being rich equals impending humiliation? The world would laugh and say this is complete foolishness! But the world does not think like the Lord does. Isaiah 55 tells us that His thoughts and ways are higher than our human ways and thoughts. In many ways, God’s thinking is the exact opposite of the way the world thinks.
Just look at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, where Jesus speaks of the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst and who are persecuted because of righteousness… and He calls all of these blessed in His kingdom! This runs so counter to what the world treasures, but God’s kingdom is truly an “upside down” kingdom. What God thinks and values is in direct contradiction with what the world and our sinful nature revere and desire. Paul elaborates on this in 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
In James 1:9, he speaks of believers in humble circumstances. The phrase “humble circumstances” here is actually a single Greek word, tapeinos, which means “not rising far from the ground” or metaphorically “lowly in spirit, humble.”[1] There are definitely moments or whole seasons of life that humble us, but I don’t think this verse is just referring to when we’re humbled by what has happened to us. God also wants us to choose a humble mindset no regardless of our current situation. 1 Peter 5:5-6 tells us, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
This has always been God’s desire for His people. Peter is quoting from the Old Testament here, specifically Proverbs 3:34. And even today, in the New Covenant ushered in by Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are to continue to be of humble heart and mind, allowing God to work through us according to His perfect will and timing, not according to our own strength and determination. No matter what our current situation might be, God wants us to be humble before Him.
Now let’s dig even deeper into verse 9. In the NASB, this verse is translated as “Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position” (emphasis added). They are to find glory in what the world says is a lowly or despised condition, but because God prizes it as a lofty and esteemed place, His followers are to value it in the same way as He does.
The Greek verb here “to glory” is kauchaomai,[2] and in other places in the New Testament, it’s translated as “boast” or “rejoice.” Things may be hard in the moment, but we are to focus on the bigger picture and to take joy in the victory that we have in Jesus. The truth is that what the world sees as “less than” God sees as cherished.
Okay, are you game for one more Greek word?? I hope so because it’s another good one! Like we saw earlier with “humble circumstances,” the phrase “high position” is also a single Greek word, hypsos. It’s found six times in the New Testament, translated as “height,” “on high,” and “be exalted.” In addition to being used here in James 1:9, there are two other verses where hypsos is found, and the Holy Spirit caused them to jump off the page at me while I was studying this passage…
Luke 24:49
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (emphasis added)
Ephesians 4:7-8
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and give gifts to his people.” (emphasis added)
In these verses, the phrase “on high” that I emphasized with italics is the Greek word hypsos. And in both of these passages, it’s equating “on high” with God above in heaven[3]. In fact, all three members of the Trinity are included… The Father and Spirit are referenced in Luke 24:49 and Jesus is referenced in Ephesians 4:7-8. Here “on high” points to God, but as James 1:9-10 teaches us, when we cherish humility, because of His glorious grace God considers it as hypsos, a “high position” in His eyes. As Luke 14:11 explains, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” This is just one more reminder that God’s kingdom is an “upside down” kingdom and the exact opposite of the world.
When we humble ourselves, then we can admit that we are sinners and that only Jesus can save us. When we ask for His forgiveness and exclaim that we want Him to become the Lord of our lives, that is when we become children of God, part of His family for all of eternity. When we choose Jesus, we can take pride in our “high position” because of Him.
[1] G5011 – tapeinos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5011/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/
[2] G2744 – kauchaomai – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2744/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/
[3] G5311 – hypsos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5311/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/
Heather L. Myers 