James Chapter 1 — Commentary on Verse 9

    The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.

    The apostle, having finished the digression about prayer, returns to the main matter in hand, which is bearing afflictions with joy. He gives another reason in this verse, because to be depressed by the world for righteousness’ sake is to be exalted toward God. Let us look at the force of the words.

    Thebrother. That is, a Christian. The people of God are called “brothers” because the truest friendship is among the good and godly. Groups of wicked men are more of a conspiracy than a brotherhood. Therefore, when you find in Scripture the words “a brother,” you should understand “a saint.” In the same way here James does not say “a Christian” but thebrother. See also Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:27.

    Inhumblecircumstances. The Greek word used here for humble signifies the condition, not the grace, and therefore we correctly translate it in humblecircumstances, for it is contrasted with rich in the next verse. It is the same in Proverbs 16:19, “Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” “Lowly” refers to the lowly in condition, not in heart, for it is contrasted with “share plunder.” So also in Luke 1:48, “He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” The grace and the condition are expressed by the same word, because a humble state appeals to a humble heart. But remember, inhumblecircumstances does not just mean “poor,” but being poor for Christ, as persecutions and afflictions are often expressed by the words “humility” and “humiliation.” Thus in Psalm 9:12 we read, “He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted”; and in verse 13, “O Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!” The original has, “my humiliation.” So here thebrotherinhumblecircumstances is one who is humbled or made low on account of opposition for being religious.

    Takepride. The original is “boast” or “glory.” It refers to the highest act of joy, even when joy begins to pass the limits of reason. I say it is the first step in the degeneration of joy and suggests that the soul is taken by surprise with excessive affection, for the next step beyond this is truly wicked. Joy begins to exceed when it exults over other people; but when it comes to insult them, it is nothing. Therefore, how should we boast or glory? I answer:

    (1)      It may be understood as a concession of the lesser evil. Rather than grumble under afflictions or faint under them or try to escape them through evil ways, you may boast about them. This is the lesser evil. Such concessions are frequent in Scripture, just as Proverbs 5:19 (“May you ever be captivated by her love”) certainly implies excessive ecstasies. How then is this to be understood? Does Scripture allow any excess of affection? No; it is only the idea of the lesser evil. Rather than lose yourself in the embraces of a harlot, “May her breasts satisfy you.”

    (2)      This may only imply our Christian privileges: let this brother view his privileges as something to boast about. However lowly your condition seems to the world, suffering for Christ is a thing you may boast in rather than be ashamed of.

    (3)      It may be that the word should be softened and be translated, “let him boast.” But this is unnecessary, for the apostle Paul speaks in the same way in Romans 5:3: “We also rejoice in our sufferings.”

    In his high position. That is, in his sublimity. This may be understood in two ways: (1) More generally, that he is a brother or a member of Christ, and the honor of the spiritual state is often contrasted with the misery and obscurity of afflictions. Thus Revelation 2:9 says, “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!”—poor outwardly, but rich spiritually. (2) More particularly, it may refer to the honor of afflictions, that we are thought worthy to suffer for anything where Christ is concerned, which is certainly a privilege.

    Notes on Verse 9

    Note1. The people of God are brothers. They are born by the same Spirit, by the same immortal seed of the Word. So, consider your relationship to each other. You are brothers, a relationship of the greatest endearment because it is natural—not founded on choice, as with friendship, but on nature [the natural working of God— Ed.note], and because it is between equals. So live and love as brothers.

    Note2. Thebrotherinhumblecircumstances. He says inhumblecircumstances and yet still says brother. Despising the poor is called despising the church of God: see 1 Corinthians 11:22, “Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?” At their love-feasts they slighted the poor, and it is as if the apostle had said, “In your houses you have liberty to invite whom you please, but when you meet in a public assembly you must not exclude a considerable part of the church, which the poor are.”

    Note3. Thebrother. Not a man in humble circumstances, but a brother. It is not poverty but being poor and a Christian that brings joy and comfort. Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”; note it is “in spirit,” not “in purse.”

    Note4. Inhumblecircumstances. The poor have the greatest reason to be humble. A poor proud man is inexplicable; he has less temptation to be proud, and he has more reason to be humble. People often live in a way that is inappropriate to their circumstances, as if they can supply in pride what is lacking in their circumstances; whereas others who excel in abilities are most lowly in mind, just as the sun at its highest casts the least shadows.

    Note5. God may place his people among the lowest in society. A brother may be inhumble circumstances in regard to his outward condition. The Captain of salvation, the Son of God himself, was “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3); that is, he appeared in such a form and rank that he could hardly be said to be a man. So, in your greatest misery say, “I am not yet beneath the condition of a saint—a brother may be in very humble circumstances.”

    Note 6. The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride. The most abject condition does not justify grumbling; you may yet rejoice and glory in the Lord. A man cannot sink so low as to be beyond the help of spiritual comforts. Do not blame your condition when you should blame yourself. It is not your misery but your passions that cause sin; wormwood is not poison. But, alas, the old Adam is found in us: “The woman you put here with me—she gave me … and I ate it” (Genesis 3:12). We blame providence when we should blame ourselves. Remember, humble circumstances have their comforts.

    Note7. Takepride. A Christian may glory in his privileges. To illustrate this, I shall show you:

    (1)      How he should not boast.

    a.      Do not boast about self, self-worth, self-merits. The apostle’s reproof is justified: “And if you did receive it, why do you boast [the same word that is used here] as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). That is a wrong way to boast—to glory in ourselves, as if our gifts and graces are bought by us. All such boasting is opposed to grace, as the apostle says in Romans 3:27, “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded.”

    b.      Do not boast over others; the Scripture never allows you to feel pride. It is the language of hypocrites to say, “Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you” (Isaiah 65:5). To despise others, as men of the world, is a sign that we have forgotten who made the difference. The apostle rebukes such people: “Why do you judge your brother?” (Romans 14:10). Tertullian translates this as, “Why do you nothing him?” He who makes others nothing forgets that God is all in all to himself. Grace is totally different: “Show true humility toward all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (Titus 3:2-3). Think of what you are in such a way that you do not forget what you were before grace made the difference.

    (2)      How he may boast.

    a.      If it is for the glory of God, to exalt God, not yourselves. “My soul will boast in the Lord” (Psalm 34:2)—of his goodness, mercy, power. It is good when we see we have nothing to boast of but our God—not wealth or riches or wisdom, but the Lord alone: see Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength … but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me.”

    b.      Recall the value of your privileges. The world thinks you have a bad deal to have a crucified Christ; glory in it. Remember Romans 5:3, “We also rejoice in our sufferings.” The apostle does not say, “We must glory or boast of our sufferings,” but glory in sufferings. This glorying lets the world know the honor we give to Christ, so that they may know we are not ashamed of our profession when we are persecuted. The apostle Paul is explained by the apostle Peter: “if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:16). They think it is a disgrace, and you think it glorious to suffer for Christ. Look forward to the reward. Christ scorned the shame in comparison with “the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). For Moses, the treasures of Egypt were nothing in comparison with his reward (Hebrews 11:26). So here you may glory, counterbalancing the shame of the world with the dignity of your hopes. So then, you see how you may take pride in God and his ways.

    Note8. Inhishighposition. Grace exalts a person; even people in humble circumstances may be exalted by it. All the comforts of Christianity are like riddles to a worldly outlook: poverty is promotion; servants are freedmen, the Lord’s freedmen (1 Corinthians 7:22). The privileges of Christianity exceed all the ignominy of the world. Christian slaves are delivered from the tyranny of Satan and the slavery of sin; therefore they are “the Lord’s freedmen.” So James says, Hasnot Godchosenthosewhoarepoorintheeyesoftheworldtoberichinfaith? (2:5). Spiritual treasure and inward riches are the best. A Christian’s life is full of mysteries: poor and yet rich; humbled and yet exalted; shut out of the world and yet admitted into the company of saints and angels; slighted, yet dear to God; the world’s dirt but God’s jewels. In one place it says, “We have become the scum of the earth” (1 Corinthians 4:13), and in another we are called God’s “treasured possession” (Malachi 3:17). So then:

    (1)      Never quarrel with providence. Though you have nothing else, rejoice in this, that you have the best things. Never envy the world’s pleasures. To complain like this is only disguised envy. Remember, God has called you to other privileges. You sin against the bounty of God if you do not value them above all the pomp and glory of the world. First Timothy 6:6 says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain”; or it may be read, “Godliness is great gain with contentment,” in contrast with worldly gain. Men may gain much, but they are not satisfied; but godliness brings contentment with it. The apostle is saying the same as Solomon: “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it” (Proverbs 10:22).

    (2)      Refresh your hearts with the sense of your privileges. As the people of God you are exalted in your greatest sufferings. Are you naked? You will be dressed in “fine linen,” which is “the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8).

    Note9. Observe more particularly that the greatest sufferings for Christ are an honor for us: see Acts 5:41. It was an act of God’s grace to put this honor on them. So then, do not view as a judgment what is a favor. Reproaches for Christ are a matter for thanksgiving, not complaint. Oh, how happy are the people of God who can suffer nothing from God or men that does not bring comfort!