Glory in Christ

Journey through James: 1:9-11

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. — James 1:9-11

James then moves to talking about social standing, something he will go back to later in his letter. While this may seem like an odd aside, but it really is not. James just wrote about trials and asking for wisdom; why is he talking about poor people and rich people now?

James is showing that his instructions are to all people. We will all face trials whether we are rich or poor. We all need wisdom regardless of our financial means. 

James is writing to people in all circumstances. He is writing to those who had to flee Jerusalem due to persecution. I would guess some of these people lost much when they fled, while others may have been able to maintain a similar style of life. Regardless of how they had been impacted by the persecution, they all had one thing in common: Christ.

It doesn’t matter whether we are rich or poor according to the world’s standards; those who have Christ as Savior have equal standing before God. Therefore, the poor can rejoice in their exaltation - they have eternal life with God. They can rejoice in the treasure they have in Christ. The rich can also rejoice. They rejoice in the fact that their riches do not matter in heaven. Their riches will fade away, but their inheritance in Christ is eternal. The rich man rejoices in his humiliation, realizing that he did not earn or buy his standing with God. Regardless of what possessions we have in life, we all come to Christ the same way, through repentance and faith. It is all by God’s grace and not by our own efforts. 

James is reminding us that the things of this earth are short-lived. Our riches are as short-lived as the flower of the grass. James paints the picture of a scorching hot day (something we are familiar with here in Iowa), and how the grass withers and flowers perish. Worldly riches and possessions are just as fleeting. While many of us would agree with this statement, we often don’t live as if this is true. The challenge and reminder of this passage is to focus on Christ. Rich people are not the only people who focus on wealth and possessions; there are plenty of poor people who expend all their energy and effort in attempting to gain riches. Pursuit of worldly riches will not satisfy. Riches will not bring security and happiness, and poverty will not ensure spirituality. 

Regardless of where we find ourselves, we need to glory in Christ and seek Him. 

 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. — Matthew 6:19-21