James 1:9-11 (the second paragraph of the epistle) gives counsel concerning the contrasting subjects of humble maturity and worldly materialism. Only two sentences are delivered in these three verses. The first is a compound sentence, encompassing verses 9-10; the second encompasses verse 11. In the closing line of verse 10, the warning is delivered to the wealthy believer, “Because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.” Then beginning with the explanatory conjunction “for,” verse 11 expands and explains that warning through the form of an illustrative picture. Even so, James 1:11 provides an illustration of admonition against the spirit and ways of worldly materialism, saying, “For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” In the illustrative picture of this verse, we encounter four significant elements. First, we encounter the scorching heat of the risen sun. Second, we encounter the withering up of the flowering grass. Third, we encounter the falling flower from the withered grass. Fourth, we encounter the perishing grace of the fallen flower. Then through the closing line of the verse, each of these four elements is applied with a direct correspondence to the materialistic believer in his materialistic ways. “So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”
1. The Scorching Heat of Our Lord’s Chastening
2. The Spiritual Withering of a Materialistic Life
3. The Sure Loss of Material Possessions
4. The Soon Disappearance of Material Glory |
