James had been urging his readers to adopt God's view of their trials. Now he broadened their perspective and encouraged them to adopt His viewpoint on all their present circumstances.
1:9 Materially poor believers should derive joy from focusing their thinking on their spiritual riches.
1:10 Likewise the materially rich should remember that riches are temporary and that one's real condition before God is a very humble one. Grass everywhere is not very hardy, but in some parts of Palestine it only stays green a few weeks. The term "flowering grass"evidently goes back to Isaiah 40:6-8. It is a combination of two thoughts, namely, that the grass withers and the flower fades. In Hebrew, mixing metaphors was a way of enriching the thought.36
The commentators differ in their understanding of who the rich people were to whom James referred. Many believe they were believers in view of James' parallel statement in verse 9. They take the verb kauchaomai("glory"or "take pride in") in verse 9 as the verb for verse 10 also. Likewise the subject "brother"in verse 9 seems to be the subject of verse 10.37Other interpreters believe that the context points to the rich being unsaved.38I think the evidence favors the view that they were Christians, probably Jewish Christians (cf. 5:1-6). In either case the meaning is clear: riches are worthless in the face of death and judgment (cf. 1 Tim. 6:9-10, 17-19).
"There is no higher honor than to be the object of God's gracious and loving concern."39
1:11 The flower of the grass refers to its stage of green, lush growth when it is at the peak of its vitality. Soon it withers and turns brown in the Middle East (cf. Matt. 6:30). Likewise the rich man may fade quickly (cf. 4:13).
"Speaking of his friend, a poor Christian, a wealthy unbeliever remarked, When I die, I shall leave my riches. When he dies he will go to his.'"40
Our trials as well as our triumphs on the earth are only temporary. This fact should help us endure our trials and not become self-confident in our triumphs.
"James seems to be indicating that trials erase any superficial distinctions that may be thought to separate the rich brother from the poor one."41
This introduction to the book (vv. 2-11) is in balance with the conclusion (5:7-20). Both sections talk about the need for patience (1:2-4; 5:7-12) and prayer (1:5-8; 5:13-18), and both end with an emphasis on all the contrasting circumstances of life (1:9-11; 5:19-20).42
