James 1:9-11 (NKJV) Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
V9 “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation…” The Greek word for “lowly” is (G5011) ταπεινός tapeinós, which means close to the ground, thus, lowly in status. See Matthew 11:29 (referring to Jesus’s humble attitude), Luke 1:52 (referring to authority), Romans 12:16 (referring to our attitude and actions to all people), and 2 Corinthians 7:6 (referring to emotions). We can approach God’s throne to pray and worship equally with those more favored (V10). It is the same regarding answers to prayers, etc.
V10 “…but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.” The rich are humbled because what they have done and what they have accumulated will have no influence with God. Physically, all are born with nothing and take nothing with them when they die. Spiritually, rich or poor, privileged or not, has nothing to do with the rewards Jesus gives at the Bema Seat judgment. See Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:10–4:5, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
V11 “For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” An illustration showing the beautiful flower (the privileged) die just like the grass. There is no special favors. Great riches of today’s can be lost overnight.
These things we learn:
- God does not favor the rich over the poor. Poor could refer to financial status, political status, or both. Compare Deuteronomy 15:11 and James 2:5-6. God punishes those who take advantage of the poor (Isaiah 3:15, Isaiah 10;2, Jeremiah 22:11 (Shallum = Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31)) with Jeremiah 22:15-17, and Daniel 4:27)
- Spiritual blessings are greater and enduring compared to financial blessings.
- Those rich in material blessings are humbled by God’s equal treatment of believers whether rich or poor. The reason is the transitory pleasure of material blessings.
- We are not to listen to the advice of the successful or promote them in church leadership just because of these temporal blessings. We are to look at their spiritual treasures.