Rich but Poor

In James 1:9–11, James addresses both poor and rich believers. Though we observe such differences in this life, remember this: Death is the great equalizer. Both poor and rich must die. So, having studied James’ exhortation to poor believers, we want to now look at his warning to the rich (Jas. 1:10–11). Let us do so, knowing that God has poured out upon us his Holy Spirit—the Spirit of power, love, and sound mind. He will enlighten our minds so that we can understand the word of God. We have received the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us (1 Cor. 1:12).

In James 1:9 we read that the poor brother is to glory in his height (i.e., in his riches in union with Christ). He is an heir with God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. He is to boast in God, who is his treasure and inheritance.

Warning to the Rich

What are the materially rich believers of this world to do? Not many rich people become believers in Jesus Christ, but some do. Abraham, Job, and Moses were rich. So also was eighty-year-old Barzillai, who helped King David and his troops during their time of great humiliation. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were rich, and they helped bury the body of Jesus with their wealth, providing a rock-hewn new tomb, fresh linen, and seventy-five pounds of an expensive mixture of myrrh and aloes. Joanna, wife of Cuza, manager of Herod’s household, is named, along with others, as a woman who supported the ministry of Jesus and his disciples (Luke 8:3). And in Acts 13 we read of a rich believer, Manaen, who was brought up with Herod the tetrarch.

In verse 10, James says that the rich brother is to boast, not in his riches, but in his lowly condition. In other words, the rich brother should glory, if you will, in his degradation.

James is using irony. God commands the rich believer to glory in his humble condition. The ground is level at the foot of the cross for all believers, rich or poor. Death comes to both, for all have sinned. Death is the great equalizer. One’s riches cannot buy justification or forgiveness of sins. In fact, riches deceive people into thinking that they do not need God. Riches make people self-sufficient. Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God; he did not say that in reference to poor people. Rather, he said, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”

A rich man cannot prolong his life with his money. Not only did the poor Lazarus die, but the rich man also died: “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day” (Luke 16:19). And verse 22: “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.” Rich unbeliever, you can expect a burial with great pomp, but that is all. The moment you die, you will arrive in hell. Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the sum total of his worldly goods.” No rich man can determine how long he is going to live. There is the reality of the transitoriness of life in this sinful, fallen world.

The rich man cannot control his time. Only God controls time. Job says, “Man’s days are determined [ordained]; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed” (Job 14:5). The psalmist says, “My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me” (Ps. 31:15); “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Ps. 139:16). Isaiah told King Hezekiah to make preparations to die and meet his Maker. He failed to pay heed to the counsel and became proud when God gave him an extension of his life on earth (2 Kings 20; 2 Chron. 32:24ff; Isa. 38–39).

The Transitory Nature of Life

In verse 11, James explains why the rich brother is to “glory” in his humiliation. He gives the following comparison: As the flower of grass passes away, so also the rich man shall go away; he will die. James explains why: The sun rises with scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. Then James draws a conclusion: So also the rich man will wilt and fade away, even as he goes about his daily life.

Throughout the Bible we read that man is like grass, a passing breeze, clay, mist, vapor. We come and go like the flower of grass. God is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable, but we are ephemeral. Despite our riches, we all must die. Remember Nabal, the mocker? He was very rich, but he refused to help David and his troops, who had helped him. So we read, “When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until daybreak. Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died” (1 Sam. 25:36–38). God killed this rich fool; his riches could not help him.

In Acts 12 we read about an arrogant Jewish king, King Agrippa I: “On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:22–23). Agrippa’s wealth and power could not prolong his life.

Look at the man who built a bigger barn to store his grain. He said, “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’” God told him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” Jesus concludes, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:19–21). God killed this rich fool too.

No rich person can buy eternal life, because eternal life is too costly. The psalmist says, “No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—that he should live on forever and not see decay. . . . Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him” (Ps. 49:7–9, 16–17). He also says, “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more” (Ps. 103:15–16).

Isaiah says, “A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever’” (Isa. 40:6–8). We read in Psalm 90, “All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (vv. 9–10). Job explains, “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure” (Job 14:1–2). And Paul says, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:9–10).

The devil offered Jesus all the glory and splendor of this world, but he rejected it: “The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only”’” (Matt. 4:8–10).

So the poor believer must say, “How rich I am in God!” And the rich person must say, “What a wretch I am in myself! I am just grass. (PGM) My beauty of riches will last only for a day. Any moment I must die.” And if you are a rich believer, then glory, like the poor believer, in God, and use your wealth to help others and spread the gospel.

Using Riches for God

Paul writes, “So command. . . .” Note, the pastor is to command the rich people to do something. Isn’t that something? Many people think the rich are to command the pastor. But here we read, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:17–19).

Jesus spoke about being generous and willing to share in his account of the sheep and the goats: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. . . . Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matt. 25:34–36, 40). Such sharing was characteristic of the early church: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need” (Acts 2:44–45). The Hebrews writer refers to it: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb. 13:16).

We must look at our life situation in the light of eternity. Look beyond death. Whether rich or poor, we must set our house in order in preparation to meet our God. We must pay heed to the counsel of Peter, who lived daily in the reality of his own imminent death as prophesied by the Lord (John 21). He tells us, “Make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1:10).

The prophet Jeremiah tells us, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD” (Jer. 9:23–24).

Friends, if you are rich, ask for divine wisdom to deal with the trial of your material riches. Don’t be proud. Praise God, and use your wealth for spiritual purposes, especially for the extension of Christ’s kingdom. Remember the meaninglessness of wealth in view of our any-moment death. This counsel is good also for those who consider themselves rich in beauty, brilliance, power, and health.

Exhortations to the Rich

Listen to what Jesus says to the rich: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:24–26). John says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15–17). Paul says the same thing: “Those who use the things of the world, [should do so] as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31). Peter speaks similarly: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, [wherein dwells] righteousness” (2 Pet. 3:11–13).

Look at the rich saints in the church of Laodicea who foolishly declared they were rich. Jesus rebuked them, saying, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see’” (Rev. 3:17–18). “Gold refined in the fire” means the true riches of God, not the gold of this world. These arrogant rich believers were being exhorted to repent by the head of the church, who was about to spit them out of his mouth. In the same way, we must ask: Who are we? We also are nothing but a flower that the wind of God is blowing away. Therefore, we also must repent and live in awareness of our nothingness. We must glory in our weaknesses.

The Pharisee in Luke 18 was rich in self-righteousness. He lacked Christ’s righteousness, and he went home condemned. But the publican cried out, “Have mercy upon me, a sinner!” and he went home justified and rejoicing.

The rich young ruler had everything. He was rich, he was young, and he was a ruler. But though he had great wealth, he rejected Christ’s counsel to give away his wealth to the poor and come and follow Jesus. He refused because he was an idolater. Thus he failed to enter the kingdom of God. But the chief tax collector, the wealthy Zacchaeus, gave half of his wealth to the poor, and the other half to those he had cheated. He thus became poor, but he also became rich in God and in his salvation.

The wrath of God is coming on the all rich who mock God and reject his Christ and his holy people: “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” (Rev. 6:15–17).

The vast majority of those who are rich and powerful mock our Lord Jesus Christ. They trust in their wealth, beauty, brilliance, health, and power. They mock the Bible and persecute those who believe in Jesus Christ. But the time is coming when unbelieving sinners, rich or poor, shall be thrown into the eternal lake of fire by Jesus Christ, who is the judge of the living and the dead, to whom the Father gave all authority in heaven and on earth to save and to judge. So we read, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15). Jesus himself said, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matt. 25:46).

Are You Rich in God?

The question is this: Has God enriched you, not with gold and silver and land and mansions, but with the riches of his glory and the unsearchable riches of Christ (Rom. 9:23; Eph. 3:8)? I ask you: Have you followed the way of Moses, who “by faith . . . when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:24–27)? Have you followed the way of Paul, who declared, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:7–8)? Have you received the superabundance of the Holy Spirit? Paul writes, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us [in superabundance] through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5–7).

If you are a rich unbeliever, I urge you to listen carefully to Jesus Christ, who says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold” (Rev. 3:18). This stands for things eternal, that will come to you free by grace through faith. As Isaiah cried out long ago, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost” (Isa. 55:1).

In hell, the rich man thought about his salvation, and the salvation of his brothers. But it was too late. James says, “The sun rose with scorching heat; the grass dried up. Its flower fell, and its glorious beauty perished forever.” So the rich man died and went to hell. So the fool Nabal died and went to hell. So the fool whose field produced a great crop and who planned for a long, luxurious retirement life died and went to hell. So also King Agrippa I died and went to hell.

Therefore, repent and believe in Jesus Christ! He calls you to come to him. He will set you free from all idolatry. He will save you. He will give you eternal life, which is the true gold. He will never drive away any sinner who comes to him. He came to heal the sick, raise the dead, and seek, find, and save lost sinners.

John Wesley wrote, “I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen—I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven—how to land safe on that happy shore.”¹

Our life on earth is no more permanent than that of a flower of the grass, says James. And in James 4 he says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” We are grass, flower, mist, breeze, clay, nothing! We are big zeroes! But we live and move and have our being because of God.

John said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). So I counsel you, whether rich and poor, cross over from death to life by faith in Jesus Christ. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” We must live as pilgrims as we travel to our heavenly Zion, the city God has prepared for us. Rich or poor, I counsel you to glory in God. The Bible guarantees those who trust in him shall lack no good thing. Jesus said, “He who has the Son, has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” This is not speaking about gold; it is speaking about eternal life. It is speaking about the greatest happiness a person can have—life with God.

¹ John Wesley, “Preface to Sermons on Several Occasions,” 1746, from The Works of John Wesley, 1, 104-6.