“Can Stress Bless?” Part 5 (Under the Juniper Tree S9E4)

February 5, 2019

Under the Juniper Tree Season 9, Episode 4 for Tuesday, February 5, 2019

I. An Example (The Poor and Rich) (v. 9-11).
A. We have an example of the poor and the rich facing trials and how that should lead to joy.
B. The poor man can rejoice in his being exhalted.

Why? This will be a trial which will test him.
Is his faith true now that he has means?
C. The rich man can rejoice in God when he loses his riches.
Why? The flower of the grass (Is. 40:6-8).
A common OT saying to refer to the instability of earthly riches.
The rich man will better understand that the riches of this life offer him nothing substantial as only God can do that.

II. The Result (Blessed) (v 12).
A. This section ends in a Beatitude.
B. Blessed/Happy is the person who stands his ground in the face of the trials of life.
C. When he is tried and endures, something is given to him.

When we run from God when the problems of life arise, we run from the crown of life.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Our actions determine what we receive.
D. Think about this vs the riches of the world.
The riches of the world are like walnuts.
i. Tear your clothes trying to get them out of the tree.
ii. You break your teeth trying to crack the nut.
iii. You never fill your belly from eating them.
Go for the crown of life.