The Boasting Of A Poor Man (James 1:9-11)

               Over the past few weeks of listening to people share their hearts, I have noticed a common theme of people wrestling with the question "what am I going to do with the rest of my life?" and this is of course coming from mostly young college age people who don't have career paths or large amounts of money to throw around. And being that I wrestle with similar thoughts at times, I have been contimplating why it is that we feel this overwhelming pressure to have a career path, lots of money, travel alot to see the world, get a nice car, have the latest technology, get a comfortable house in a nice neighborhood, be physically beautiful, and have a great retirement to be successful with our lives, when in reality the bible doesn't mention any of these things as important to our eternal status (which in the end is the only thing that matters).
               So as I am plowing my way through the book of James I came across the passage last week that reads "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation", and when I took a step back and really thought about what this statement meant to the original readers of this letter, who were really the poorest of poor people, I was overwhelmingly convicted of my unbelief in the gospel when I ask the question "what am I going to do with the rest of my life?". The Holy Spirit really opened my eyes to see that this call to boast in our "exaltation" was really a call to boast in the gospel. This passage is beautifully showing how a relationship with Jesus Christ is all-satisfying to people in their impoverished lives. As well as shedding light on what a true believers actual status is before God, regardless of their earthly status. Christians are an EXALTED people because of what Jesus did on the cross. All of our earthly riches and all of our earthly works ultimately fall short of earning us favor before God, so therefore the only thing that eternally matters is our exalted state because of the gospel, everything MUST point back to the person and work of Jesus Christ. So with that being the ultimate determination of a "successful" life, things like whether you are rich or poor, have a career or are flipping burgers at McDonalds, drive a Porsche or an old beater, whether you're the most beautiful girl at school or the ugliest girl could not matter less, the only thing that matters is your exaltation in Jesus!
               Now my challenge to myself and readers would be to instead of asking "What am I going to do with the rest of my life?" we must ask ourselves "How am I going to let the good news of the gospel radically reshape my life for eternity?" And I think a beautiful passage to dwell on when I have felt stagnant or worthless, and one that is overflowing with the good news of the gospel is Romans 8:16-18 "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." We are not of this world nor is our treasure here.