by Diana Howard

Created on: September 19, 2008   Last Updated: May 29, 2011

THE UPSIDE DOWN BIBLE STUDY -LESSON 3 - BEING RICH MAY BE JUST A MATTER OF BEING UPSIDE DOWN

Our last two studies at God's upside down principles showed us that in order to have true life, we must die to self or "lose our old life to find our new one". We also discovered that weakness, allows God to work in our lives and we appropriate His strength, so when I am weak, I can be truly strong. The "upside down" viewpoint is never more evident in God's economy than in the principle that reveals that when one is rich, he may actually be poor in God's eyes, while someone who is materially poor may more spiritually rich than some of his well-possessed brothers..

James 1: 10 "the brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he 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 man will fade away while he goes about his business."

The key to this verse and others that demonstrate this principle is found in the last two sentences of the passage above. The sun does indeed wither the plant, its blossoms fall and its beauty is destroyed, just as rich men fade, grow old, wither and die, even as they pursue their business. It is all a matter of focus.  In order to be wealthy materially, unless you inherity, is to be "married" to your job or your business.  This doesn't allow much time to be in a truly intimate relationship with God or anyone else.  So often we are fooled into thinking that worldly success or money will make us happy, however in the Old Testament, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived puts it this way;

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 " Meaningless! Meaningless! Says the Teacher "Utterly meaningless!" What does anyone gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun."

And in verse 11

11. "There is no remembrance of people of old and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them".

Solomon voices the fear that has each of us running the treadmill....that we will die unremembered, and that what we accumulate here on earth is all that we're ever going to have. Materialism is the vehicle to preserve our other fantasies about a happy fulfilled life. . The world is filled with people who toil away in order to accumulate wealth and then drop dead before they ever have a chance to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

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