Take Pride in Your High Position

To the believer who is unemployed, disabled or defeated. Take pride in your high position. Your humble circumstances are temporary. Easier said than done. I know. I either am, or have been all of the aforementioned identifiers. But, they are not my identity, nor are they yours.

What seems like a lifetime ago, we lost the farm. A literal farm. We gave everything we had to building a business. We were capable, determined and a little too early for the times. Our farm market, nursery and gift shop would probably flourish in today’s farm-to-table culture, but back then, it just didn’t work. But God was working. He was working in my heart to build perseverance –  by testing my faith.

It worked.

Looking back, I am thankful we lost the farm. No regrets. Through humble circumstances, God created in me a sense of pride. Not in what I did, or in this case, didn’t do – but in who I am.

 “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.” James 1:9

Not the kind of in-your-face pride, but the kind that speaks to your heart, “I am going to be okay.” Because I am a child of God, disappointment can’t defeat me. I want to be careful here and make sure you understand that my confidence is not a result of anything I’ve done. It is because of what God has done and can do when we trust him.

But let’s not get caught up in doing. I confess, I am a doer. So, when I can’t do the things I think are of value, those humble circumstances feel more like failure. Friends, the “pride in our high position” has nothing to do with what we have earned, accomplished or have to show for all our hard work. It has to do with who we are in the eyes of a loving, gracious God.

We are chosen.
We are loved.
We are forgiven.
We are redeemed.
We are His.

The book of James is specifically speaking to believers, to teach us how to think and act. We can really mess that up when our fleshly desires produce empty faith. If we don’t stop chasing after what is temporary and focus on the everlasting work of the Kingdom, we are missing out on the riches that come from faith in the Father.

I can’t say that I embraced the moment we lost the farm. I was broken before I believed. And I’ve been broken many times since. While I was busy cultivating sweet corn, God was cultivating the kind of courage he knew I would need, again, and again.

Since that day I humbled myself before the Lord, in need of his power over the loss we experienced, I have suffered even greater loss. Yet because God walks with us in grace, and reveals the truth of his Word in our affliction, we can know his love for us is certain – no matter what we may face.

God is in the business of growing our faith through failures that try to steal our joy and make us question what’s in it for us.  Let’s look back again at our key verse in James 1:9 then read a little further.

“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.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:9-12

Whatever it is that you have lost, remember who you are, and to whom you belong. What’s in it for you, and those who love Him, is the crown of life.