Not many rich are saved It seems very difficult to reach the rich with the Gospel. Seems they usually are so wrapped up in their riches, and trust so in them, that they do not feel their need of the Lord. "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:23). Pride probably plays a big part in their not being saved. They are proud of their achievements, and also much flattered by those round about. Consequently, they are not ready to humble themselves and bow to Christ. We feel sorry for such. What an awful let down it must be to them when death finally comes. They must leave riches behind and then be in punishment forever. We read of the rich man in Luke 16:23, "And in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments." Without doubt, this has happened over and over again to rich men ever since.

A rich man died: The richest man in a certain town died. The day of the funeral a simple lad followed the hearse, and said to all along the way, "There he goes. There he goes, and not a cent in his pocket." Perhaps if he had known the whole truth, he would have said something far more dreadful.

Made low in order to save: Sometimes the Lord brings a rich man low in order to save him. He takes his wealth away from him. "Riches certainly make themselves wings: they fly away as an eagle toward heaven" (Prov. 23:5). Other misfortune may overtake him, such as bereavement or loss of health. Then broken in spirit, he comes to the feet of the Lord Jesus and is saved. Sad to say, though, many have had misfortune suddenly overtake them, and instead of turning to Christ, they have committed suicide.

Some rich saved: The Lord Jesus says, "With God all things are possible," so occasionally we hear of rich men trusting Christ. And some such have been strong and wonderful Christians. If a rich man has humbled himself enough to receive Christ as Savior, he is more than likely to remain humble and useful, too.

A rich man's rewards: A rich man may gain great reward for himself if he uses his riches for the Lord. These are days when everything requires money; far more so that in Bible times. For the advancement of the work of the church of our Lord good building and equipment are needed. Much needs to be spent for Gospel literature and advertising. The preacher of the Gospel needs a good and worthy salary, he needs a good library, a car and home in which to live and the hope that he and his family will be cared for when he retires. Christians have been sadly lacking in caring for faithful, old and retired preachers. Then there are television and radio programs and Internet expenses to pay for and carry on. These things are needed to keep up with the competition of the times. Unsaved people and even Christians are affected by these things. If a man can go into a new city with a radio or television program, along with Internet support, rent a nice building and advertise extensively, he will be far more apt to accomplish something than if he has no place from which to begin and no funds to advertise. A rich man with a vision and a willingness to give of his means can be a great help in the spreading of the Gospel by supplying these things. Most have to be begged, when they should be seeking out such opportunities of support. If all the Lord's people would remember that they are stewards, holding things for the Lord, there would be no lack, and their reward in glory would be great.

Riches some Christians: A Christian who gains riches needs to be very much on guard lest he be spoiled by them. To be prosperous seems wonderful to the natural man, but it is not always good for a Christian. To keep lowly under such circumstances is not easy. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God" (1 Tim. 6:17). We need to be very careful that our possessions do not possess us. Riches can be a great blessing, but also a great curse.

Rejoice: "... in that he is made low ..." The word "rejoice" applies to both those of low degree of verse 9 and the rich of verse 10. So the rich and the poor can both rejoice, although in opposite things. The poor rejoice in their exaltation and the rich, in their humiliation. We can easily understand one rejoicing in his being exalted, but not so easily in one being humbled.

"... made low ..." For a rich man to link himself up with the lowly Nazarene really meant something. He would immediately lose much prestige, and might lose his wealth. We read in Hebrews 10:34, ye "took joyfully the spoiling of your goods." Many were dispossessed by angry relatives and town folks, forced to flee, or be imprisoned. This would be especially trying to one raised in the lap of luxury. Paul, it seems, suffered much in this way. "For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Phil. 3:8). I know of Christians today suffering loss, because no longer tolerated by godless employers, or partners, or business associates.

Made low in other ways: The rich man is made low because in Christ he is no higher than the poorest Christian. His riches should give him no prestige in the assembly of Christians either. Some have found their servants ruling elders in the assemblies, and they had to be subject to them. Sometimes they have had to sit in their seats and listen to their employees preach or teach a class.

Still rejoice: In spite of anything that may come, the rich man, yes, all of us are still to rejoice. Has poverty come quickly? Rejoice. Is home gone? Rejoice. Do friends prove false? Rejoice. Is prestige or honor or health gone? Still rejoice. Rejoice that you have Christ. A tent or a cottage, what does matter if you have Christ? To be dishonored for His sake is truly an honor. Whatever adversities come our way let them drive us ever nearer to our Lord Jesus Christ. "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound" (Phil. 4:11, 12).

"... he shall pass away."It is especially in the light of death that the rich man is to rejoice in his humiliation. Because as the flower or the grass; he shall pass away (Luke 1:24). Like the Lord Jesus in this life he has been humbled, but like the Lord Jesus in the next, he shall be exalted (Phil. 2:5-11). Of what value are riches in the sight of death or the light of eternity? Riches may be nice and convenient, but they must be left behind at death. Like the beautiful flowers, they are lovely, but soon gone. However, spiritual riches go on, and we can rejoice in our eternal inheritance. How wise is the man, who for Christ's sake is ready to become poor. Such will certainly be rich in eternity. We read of the Lord Jesus, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). Wise is the man that is willing to become poor in order that he may make others rich in Christ.

Scripture Reading: James 1:11 (KJV)

Hot wind: Quite frequently in Palestine, along with the rising sun comes a hot south wind, which grows hotter as the day progresses. Much vegetation wilts under this burning heat. The expression, "burning heat" is literally "hot wind." We have many references to this hot wind in the scriptures. "And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass" (Luke 12:55). In the parable of the sower, we read of the seeds sown on stony places, "And when the sun was up, they were scorched" (Matt. 13:6). This reveals how easily and quickly a rich man may be brought low.

"... a burning heat ..." The burning heat of the big depression brought many rich men down to poverty. One man, the treasurer of a large manufacturing plant, was brought down until he gladly accepted a position as night watchman in the same plant. The burning heat of accident or sickness may quickly bring one down. Some have lost their all because of thieving partners. Some of the leading Jewish bankers in Germany were swindled and robbed by Hitler—forced to flee for their lives. It truly is folly to glory in one's riches, for it might soon be gone.

God's hand: The burning heat perhaps speaks of God's hand in judgment. Many dislike the thought of hell, yet we read of it often in the Word. Of course, one who is a true Christian, whether rich or poor, will never experience God's eternal wrath, but if we are not careful, we are likely to experience His judging hand in this life. His burning heat may bring us low.

"... the flower thereof falleth ..." When writing our verse, James may have had in mind Isaiah 40:6-8. There too, we have the expression, "the grass withereth, the flower fadeth." A Flower is beautiful. It is nice to go through a greenhouse. The beauty of the thousands of flowers is beyond description. Sometimes, behind the green-house, there is a dumping place. There one can see many dead plants and flowers. They died before ever gracing a purchaser's table, or the grave of a departed dear one. Just as suddenly a rich man can be taken away.

"... the fashion of it perisheth ..." What a great variety of flowers the Lord has given us. It is marvelous to consider them. How wonderful to put a seed in the ground, watch it spring up, unfolding into a beautiful flower. Who but the Lord could make a flower? Men can make artificial ones of paper, but they are much different from the genuine; having no life, no sweet odor, unable to reproduce. All flowers produce seed, and some also luscious fruit for our use. One has a peach tree in his yard. Its blossoms may be small, but are very attractive, and what lovely peaches are picked from it. All these things are wonderful, but the beautiful flower soon perishes. The lovely morning glory lasts but a few hours, the rose a few days, and the mums a few weeks, but soon they will all be gone.

Man, too, soon perishes: Whether rich or poor, all of mankind also soon passes away. We read in Luke 16, how the poor beggar Lazarus died. The rich man also died and was buried. In Luke 12, we read of the rich farmer. He had everything just about as he wanted it. He said to himself, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." But God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall these things be, which thou has provided?" (Luke 12:19, 20). Let us learn from this, beloved, whether rich or poor, not to live for the present, but for eternity.

What riches cannot do: Some think that the greatest thing in life is to possess riches. There are many vital things in life in which they are of no help. Riches do not make one happy. A very rich man was approached by a young man who said, "You must be very happy with all your money." "Happy?" replied the rich man, "I can count the happy days of my life on the fingers of one hand."

Riches do not make one better: Riches do not make one better. Sometimes the rich are worse morally than the poor. "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt" (Eccl. 5:13). Inherited riches are especially injurious.

Riches do not preserve from sickness and death: The rich man may be able to hire the best doctors, and go to the best hospitals, and have the finest nurses, but all these do not keep away sickness and death. A rich man was seriously injured in a car wreck. To those first on the scene he said: "I'll give a million dollars to anyone who can save my life." But it did not help, in a few minutes he was dead.

Riches cannot redeem a soul: Many think that by giving liberally to the church they can buy, or at least help buy, their way into heaven. Nothing in the scriptures would uphold this idea. Many think that by paying heavily for masses for their dear ones, they can get them out of purgatory and into heaven. This the scripture flatly denies. "They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (Ps. 49:6, 7). If you are hoping for a place called purgatory, you may be greatly disappointed. The Scriptures do not even suggest that there is such a place. The Bible speaks of only two gates, two roads, and two destinies.

"... so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways." The rich man and/or his riches may fade away. He may have great plans for the future, but it could fade away. He may start great projects, but never finish them. He may reach his goals only to leave them all behind. There was a man who amassed great wealth, built a beautiful home, lived in it two weeks, and died. Some rich men, thinking they will retire to a life of travel and pleasure, pass away before ever enjoying their wealth. It’s better to labor for an "inheritance incorruptible – that fadeth not away" (1 Pet. 1:4).

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