James 1:9-11 (ESV)
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, in his setting, is writing to a group of Christians who are primarily poor, have been relocated due to persecution and as a consequence, been ostracized but the society at large. The majority of these Christ had little significance in the world’s evaluation. However, instead of reminding them of their status within his society, he turns their focus to look beyond the world’s view and to see God’s view of them: exalted…chosen to be a part of His family and to inherit the kingdom of God (James 2:5). However, there are some within this church who have wealth and social status. James knows that they are tempted toward pride in their social status and riches just as the poor are tempted to feel powerless and insignificant. Being aware of this, he the temporary nature of riches by using an illustration from nature. The image provided by James is of an individual dying in the midst of their pursuits. In using this description, he is encouraging them to identify themselves with Christ, the despised and rejected one. He wants them to have a spiritual perspective, not a cultural perspective or “rags” and “riches.”
Foremost, I want to encourage you and let you know that I pray that you will do well in your academics and succeed in the major you have chosen. I pray and believe that God will provide for you the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills you learn toward your future career. Nonetheless, I want to caution you. I want to warn you that it is easy of falling into the temptation of viewing your college major and your possible future career as the way in which you can obtain the American dream… of working a respectable paying job for a few decades, live a comfortable life, and retire in your late 50’s or early 60’s.
Now, now let me qualify myself, there is nothing wrong having a good job. There is nothing sinful in having wealth. But, if your focus in college and career is upon attaining the American dream and living a cozy life, then might I suggest that you pursuits are misdirected. All the things you could ever attain in this life physically will eventually fade away and lose its grandeur. Most of the luxury cars fifty years from now will either be non-workable or rubbish. The grandest house money could ever buy will eventually be just a museum of what you used to own when you were alive (Biltmore).
Your significance in this life is not in what you have or what you can obtain but in who you belong to. Through Jesus Christ, you are God’s child and you have the privilege of knowing and serving the creator of this universe. You have the opportunity and the exalation which money and status could ever buy. Your purpose of the gifts, talents, and knowledge you have is not to obtain the American dream but to use them for God’s purposes. I know many of you well and I hope I get to know all of you sometime in the future. I know many of you have a spiritual perspective on riches and status. I’m here to encourage you to continue to follow God in this way in order for His glory and your spiritual growth.
I will continually keep you in my prayers. God bless.
Your Brother in Christ,
Aaron Edwards
