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James 1:10-11
But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they 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 will fade away even while they go about their business.
So, I know I mentioned James 1:10 in my last post for our journey through James 1, but I wanted to included it again today to dig a little deeper into its meaning in conjunction with verse 11. Let’s start off with clarifying who “the rich” are in these verses.
I don’t believe that God is saying He’s opposed to all people who have a substantial amount of money. Instead, “the rich” here refers to those who put their faith in their own wealth instead of in Him. Having money doesn’t unilaterally equal humiliation, as long as you humble yourself before God and His purposes. We are to serve God and give back to Him what He’s given to us. During His earthly ministry, even Christ had wealthy followers, like Joseph of Arimathea, who gave up his own tomb for Jesus’ short stint in the grave (Matthew 27:57-60).
The truth is that the days of every single person are numbered and fleeting, not just for the rich. Psalm 103:15 (NASB) says, “As for man, his days are like grass; Like a flower of the field, so he flourishes.” God also illuminates this truth in Isaiah 40:6-7 (ESV), “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.”
James himself expounds upon this further along in his epistle if we look to chapter 4, verse 14, which states, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” This time using a different analogy, James acutely describes the transient nature of all humanity. And this points to the need of all people for a Savior.
Anyone who puts their trust in their human ability will bring about their own demise, for the flesh is destined for death. Yet whoever puts their trust in Jesus alone as their Redeemer and Lord is sealed by the Holy Spirit and thus destined for eternal life. This is explained beautifully by Paul in Romans 8…
Romans 8:8-14
Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Outside of Christ, man is simply flesh, and because of sin, is destined for death. However, when you turn to Jesus, you’re sealed by the Spirit and guaranteed life. As a child of God, you’ll be transformed and will live for eternity in the presence of God. With hope and joy, we can cling to the promises Paul declared to the believers of Corinth, because we are also followers of Jesus, they are promises for us as well.
1 Corinthians 15:50-57
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heather L. Myers 