Withering Grass and Flowers James 1:11

James told “the brothers of low degree” to “rejoice” in that they were “exalted”, and “the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away”. In chapter one and verse eleven of his letter, James gave his readers the “withering grass” and “flowers” as examples of the temporary nature of the “rich man” where we read:

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

The verse begins, “For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower thereof falls,...” James began with the words, “For the sun” which means “since, on account of and because the light of the eastern sun” “is no sooner risen” or “arisen and sprung up” “with a burning heat” which means “very dry and hot east wind which scorched and dried up everything”, “but it withers” or “dries up and pines away” “the grass” which means “the place where grass grows and animals graze, herbage, hay and provender”, “and the flower” or “blossoms of the flower” “thereof falls” which means “falls out of, down from or off”. When the heat of the sun comes down upon the “grass and flower” of the fields, they scorch and dry then so their pedals and leaves fall off.

The verse goes on to say, “...and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” James continued, “and the grace” or “goodly appearance, shapeliness, beauty and comeliness” “of the fashion” which means “face, countenance, look and appearance” “of it” which refers to the “grass and flower” “perishes” which means “destroys, loses, abolishes, puts to an end to ruin and render useless”: “so also” or “even, indeed, then and therefore” “shall the rich man” which means “the wealthy, abounding in material resource and abundantly supplied” “fade away” or “extinguish, render arid, make to waste away, consume and have a miserable end” “in his ways” which means “his journeys, purposes, pursuits and undertakings”. All the beauty of the “flowers and grass” of the fields “perishes” quickly in the heat of the sun, and so shall it be with those who are “rich” in material possessions in this world.

When we think through these words of James, we realize how temporary are the “riches” of the wealthy in this world. No matter how “rich” a person may be, he shall leave everything he has when he dies. The idea is that the “rich” person should “rejoice” when he is made “low” or humbled because this will keep him reminded of the impermanent nature of this world's “wealth”. Jesus Christ came to offer “eternal riches” that will last forever and shall never fade away, and when we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, we trade the transient for the permanent. May all who read these words take heed.

Next time James shares how the man who “endures temptation” is “blessed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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