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in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19‐24. A person’s attitude toward material things is a good
indication of his attitude toward spiritual things. Faith in God will be the great equalizer, which elevates
the poor and humbles the rich. All of this is still in the context of handling tests and trials. Testing from
Satan comes to all, rich or poor, high or low class, male or female, black or white.

. . . rejoice (kauchaomai: glory, celebrate) (because) he is exalted:

This man can celebrate even though he is financially poor because he knows God’s Word and is applying
it to the circumstances. This person does not have the love of money but the love of God. He is perfectly
oriented to life and does not need details of life for contentment. This man can rejoice because through
Jesus Christ he has been exalted in life and in eternity. He can rejoice in his position of truth, what Jesus
has done for him by means of the cross. Being singleminded toward the Lord is the great equalizer in the
body of Christ. It elevates the poor and humbles the rich (1 Corinthians 7:20‐22). It brings the proper
perspective to suffering, which comes to us all.

Jas 1:10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
But the rich in that he is made low . . . .

“ Making low” is not making poor. The rich people in the New Testament church were to rejoice like the
poor man, but for another reason. At one time the rich depended upon riches for security and power
(Matthew 19:23, Luke 18:23‐27), but they have been humbled to realize that their newfound strength is
in the Lord who has just saved him by grace ‐‐ unmerited favor.
Money could not have purchased their deliverance, only the ransom price of the blood of Jesus Christ
could.

The lowering of the rich man is as much inward as the elevating of the poor. This is not an outward bringing
in of finances to the poor or taking away from the rich. Relating this back to trials and persecution, which
is the theme of chapter 1, neither wealth nor poverty will bring a person through trials. Only faith in the
Word can do this and it is available to all, whether or not they have money.
. . . because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

Life is as uncertain to the rich as it is to the poor. Riches cannot keep you on earth past a certain time
period. Death comes to all despite color, sex, nationality, or social standing. People in the church needed
to understand this in Jame’s day and still need to understand it in our day. The expression “the grass of
the field” is taken from Isaiah 40:6‐8 and Matthew 6:28‐30. Jesus used this term in the Sermon on the
Mount as an illustration about worry. Tomorrow is uncertain for us all, but God takes care of the grass of
the field, which is here today and gone tomorrow. God cares more for us than the flowers of the field, so
we do not need to worry over money, clothing, or the necessities of life. Other scriptures dealing with the
shortness of life include Psalm 90:5‐6, 102:11, 103:15, Isaiah 51:12, and 1 Peter 1:24.

Jas 1:11 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.
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning (scorching) heat (wind), but it withereth the grass,
And the flower thereof falleth, and the grace (beauty) of the fashion of it perisheth . . .