Our Scripture for today is James 1: verses 9 through 11.
“The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”
These verses seem counterintuitive. He seems to be saying that we ought to rejoice when we are poor, or as he says, “in humble circumstances.” How can this be possible? The country singer said, “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better.”
That is not what this verse seems to say.
James is saying that you will be disappointed if you trust in wealth. Wealth passes away. I love the story of the man who asked about a friend who had died. He asked, “How much money did he leave his wife?” The answer? He left it all.
In the end, all we have is what we have in eternity. So, what we have here is nice, but what we really have is what God gives us in eternity.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.