James Chapter One, Part 2

1:9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (10) but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.

Verse nine deals with the "lowly" or poor brother in Christ who can glory in his exaltation. Just earlier in this chapter James instructs us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials" because "the testing of our faith produces patience," James 1:2-3. The wealthy can glory in humiliation, or practicing humility, realizing that God has exalted them with material gain for only a brief time; for their spiritual gain as they serve others and glorify God. We all have a fleeting life, and we shall be called upon to give an account of what we did with our "talents" (resources or borrowed money, so to speak) when we come before Christ's judgment seat, Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 14:10-12. What we have is a gift from God, therefore it is foolishness to boast as though we acquired it some other way. Also, our pursuits, like our lives, will perish, and so a believer blessed with wealth ought to conduct themselves (and their fortune) in the light of eternity and their entrance into glory. The trial of the rich is often to understand that it is given to them to in turn give to others. "Freely you have received, freely give," Matthew 10:8.

James Chapter One, Part 1

1:1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: greetings.

James is recognized by most biblical scholars as being a half-brother to Jesus through the marriage of Joseph (Jesus' adoptive father) and Mary. He is made mention of in Matthew 13:55, along with his full brothers Joses, Simon, and Judas, and again in Matthew 27:56, along with his brother Joses. It is significant to mention that both times he is corollated directly with being the son of Mary, and in Matthew 13:55, the writer links both Mary and James to being related as family to Jesus through the flesh.