James 1:10

'and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.'

'rich man' -It would seem very clear that the rich man under consideration is. Christian. There were wealthy Christians in various congregations (1 Timothy 6:17).

'glory in his humiliation' -'The man who is wealthy in the things of the world should rejoice that his personal value is more permanent than his wealth' (Draper p. 26) 'He (the rich), too, could find reason to glory in his Christian faith, even in persecution. To be the object of ridicule and scorn because he had adopted Christian values would have been an humiliating experience for. rich man, perhaps even more so than for. poor one. To relegate material things to. lesser plane because the wealthy person had put his concentration on spiritual concerns would lower him in the eyes of many of his pagan neighbors. James said to him that this should be no cause of shame, but rather an opportunity for proper exultation that his values had now been straightened out.' (Kent p. 43)

The rich Christian needs to rejoice, because God has shown him his true spiritual poverty and the temporal nature of his wealth (Luke 12:15). 'The great peril of riches is that they tend to bring to. man. false sense of security. He feels that he is safe; he feels that he has the resources to cope with anything; he feels that he can buy anything he wants, and buy himself out of any situation which he may wish to escape or to avoid.' (Barclay p. 55)

'because like flowering grass he will pass away' -Life is fleeting for both poor and rich alike, but the rich man has the greater tendency to trust in the uncertainty of riches, and think that he and his life will last forever (1 Timothy 6:17; James 4:13; Luke 12:15). In addition, the rich man could lose his wealth overnight, and cease to be. rich man (Hebrews 10:34; 1 Peter 3:5).

'flowering grass' -(1 Peter 1:24). 'James's description of the wealthy man and the comparative shortness of human life reminds him of the wild flowers that carpeted the hillsides of his native land. They were dazzlingly beautiful for. few brief weeks in the spring after the rains had come, but their beauty was always short-lived.' (Kent p. 44)

Points To Note:

1. Temptations exist for both the poor man and the rich man (Proverbs 30:7). 'Poverty is not an unmixed blessing, nor are riches an unadulterated evil.' (Woods p. 47). 2. 'The greatest temptation the poor face is coveteousness. We would think that the rich would be the most coveteous, but it is easy for those who do not have all the things they would like to have to view themselves as deprived (Mark 4:19)….James is saying, "Don't become bitter and depressed by dwelling on your poverty, but recognize from. new perspective that you are exalted in the eyes of God and in the face of eternity." There is no room in the Christian's life for bitterness because we don't have what we want. We would then saying that God has given us less than we need.' (Draper p. 27) 3. Clearly, we have the tendency to rejoice about the wrong things. 4. 'When asked how much money it takes to make. man happy, John D. Rockefeller answered, "Just. little more".' (Draper p. 30)