“And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish. I the LORD have spoken and have done it.”
— Ezekiel 17:24
“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted. But the rich in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”
— James 1:9-10
Our God does not always act in ways that we would anticipate, nor does he regard the things in us we sometimes think He should. We love the pathos of the “self-made” man. We assume that success always stems from God’s blessing and approval of an individual, and disease and hardship the result of his disapproval.
But God will just as soon dry up a green tree as he will flourish a dry one. And James furthermore tells us to rejoice in being brought so low. This is a hard lesson for us. America as I write in 2023 is much like the rich man in Luke 16, who knew nothing but ease and luxury while many other places on earth suffer like Lazarus under the weight of corrupt governments and NGOs like the UN, IMF, and WHO. James tells us that we should rejoice if these things reverse themselves and the rich are brought down to exalt the lowly.
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance [1]. That includes us. This does not mean rejoice at the misfortune of others. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth.[2]
No, James is pointing that two-edged sword of the spirit directly at ourselves. When we are rich and prosperous we are to be like Job, saying to ourselves Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? [3] Indeed we must say along with John the Baptist: He must increase, but I must decrease. [4] It is the trials that refine us and reveal who is in Christ. We must be brought low before the Lord can bring us to new heights.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love him.[5]
Scriptures:
1Is 40:15
2Prov 24:17
3Job 2:10
4John 3:30
5James 1:12
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