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)
Life is not fair. It doesn’t take a lot of time living on planet earth to arrive at this realization. It’s not. Some find themselves in places where wealth and abundance overflow. Others are born in parts of the world struck with abject poverty. Some people live on “the right side of the tracks,” while others make their home in that “sketchy part of town.” It’s not just the imbalances we find in society, but even the random tragedies of life seem to fall on some more than others without any rhyme or reason. One man loses his job when the factory closes, while another man is promoted to the corner office.
It would be easy for a person to grumble or become bitter when he falls on hard times. We may find ourselves coveting the good fortune of another. But this kind of attitude does not flow from wisdom. James challenges us to look at our circumstances from a biblical perspective. Suffering in its various forms will afflict us all, both the rich and the poor. The person who has embraced Christ as the greatest treasure of life, can overcome anything. This is because he has an unfading inheritance stored up in glory that can never be taken away from him.
The Exaltation of the Poor
James first address the “the brother of of humble circumstances.” From an earthly perspective, we might say that he is less fortunate than others. Perhaps, if he could somehow overcome his poverty or climb his way to a higher station in life, he could find real happiness. But James tells us that glory isn’t found in our earthly status. All too often, a person spends their life chasing success (however you might define that). Yet, once he arrives at his goal, that person is just as miserable as before. Why? It’s because material things cannot satisfy the deepest longing of your heart. If you know the Lord, you can rejoice in him right where you are. God lifts us from our spiritual poverty, when we come to experience salvation, and he bestows on us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). For this reason, even the brother in humble circumstances is exulted.
The Humbling of the Rich
James then addresses “the rich man,” telling him to glory in his humiliation. We don’t like to be humbled. No one wants to go through adversity or be brought low by unforeseen circumstances. To the person who has enjoyed a life of prosperity, be thankful even when the troubles of life come, because God can do great good in those moments. Troubles can cause you to abandon a sense of self-sufficiency and can help you reevaluate your priorities. In the Gospels, Jesus warned the disciples of how difficult it can be for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23). When a person already “has it all” he may not realize his need for God. Tragedies can shake our lives. It might look as if we have lost everything in moments of desperation, but from a spiritual perspective you have gained something of infinitely greater worth when you are resting in the Lord. James is warning the wealthy not to focus on earthly riches, but on your relationship with Christ. There are plenty of scenarios where all the money in the world won’t do you any good. It is the riches of heaven that never fade.
The Great Equalizer
It doesn’t matter how large or small one’s bank account might be. The time will eventually come for all of us to leave this world behind. It might seem like a long ways off, especially while you are young. So many people spend their days chasing material things, but this is folly. Life is shorter than you realize. Like the flowering grass that sprouts from the ground today and withers under the scorching sun, our lives on this earth will perish before we know it. Death is the great equalizer, and as the bumper sticker reminds us “you can’t take it with you.” The question is, how will you spend your life while you are here?
James urges us to see our condition in life from an eternal perspective. If you are poor, don’t grumble or complain at how unfair this life can be. Rejoice that you are exalted in Christ to a greater position than you can fathom. Find contentment right where you are (Philippians 4:11-13). If you are rich, don’t trust in your wealth or look to it for satisfaction. Give thanks, and use your earthy resources to do good (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Rejoice in the humbling circumstances that come your way because they remind you that all of our earthly treasures will one day pass away while our riches in Christ remain forever. Life isn’t fair. That’s okay, because the Lord is the rewarder of those who seek him, and he is all that we will ever need.