Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (Jam 1:9-12)

In the 1960s and 70s, Stanford psychologist Walter Mischel conducted the marshmallow experiment, testing delayed gratification in children. A child was shown a marshmallow (or in some variations, a chocolate or pretzel) and told they could eat it immediately or wait 15 minutes to receive two. Some children ate immediately, while others waited and received the reward. Follow-up studies showed that children who waited tended to do better in school, health, and life success. This experiment tested hearts in areas like trust, self-control, hope, and patience.

Similarly, adults worldwide face daily tests of the heart through their economic circumstances. Poverty and wealth both serve as profound tests of faith, revealing what is truly treasured in our hearts.

Many Christians pass the test of poverty, but more fail the test of prosperity. Both poverty and wealth expose what is in our hearts. Believers often experience both at different times in life. Paul himself said, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:12-13)

Many of Christ’s parables deal with stewardship because our response to money—whether abundance or lack—is a trial. Jesus summarized this truth: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mat 6:21)

What we treasure reveals the condition of our soul. God uses poverty and wealth to test, purify, and strengthen us. Boasting reveals what we treasure—whether poor or rich, everyone boasts in something. Boasting means taking delight in, valuing, and wanting others to praise something.

Paul speaks of boasting in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31), in the cross (Gal 6:14), in Jesus Christ (Phil 3:3), and even in weakness through Christ (2 Cor 11). He also warns against evil boasting—in the law (Rom 2:23), in human beings (1 Cor 3:21), in abilities (1 Cor 4:7), in appearance (2 Cor 5:12), in the flesh (2 Cor 11:18), or in works.

Simply put, you either boast in God or in self. Our boasts reflect our humility or pride. The trial of your economic situation reveals where you boast.

James will show us that Christians in poverty must boast in one thing, those in wealth must boast in another, and all Christians must boast in a third.

I. Christians Have-Nots Must Boast In What They Have

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation

James addresses the lowly brother—the Christian who is materially poor or humbled by economic circumstances. The poor are those who struggle to provide food and shelter, living with little to spare.

The Bible identifies various reasons for poverty: slothfulness (which should not apply to Christians), calamity (disability, drought, economic collapse), exploitation, personal sacrifice for ministry or ethics, and providence (job loss due to economic changes). Regardless, poverty will always exist, and so will poor Christians.

James focuses not on changing one’s economic situation but on how to respond to it. The response is to boast, to glory in something. Everyone boasts in something, making it their treasure.

Sinful hearts naturally boast in weakness during poverty, turning it into a martyrdom that demands pity. Such boasting breeds resentment, murmuring, scorn, and covetousness toward the rich. Covetousness is not only a sin of the rich; poor people can covet just as much, envying those who have more.

Some poor boast arrogantly in their simple life, looking down on others as self-indulgent. But this is still boasting in self.

Believers who are poor should not rejoice in resentment, envy, or arrogance. Instead, James says they must boast in their exaltation. This is explained in James 2:5:

“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

Poverty, when embraced rightly, makes one rich in faith and heirs of God’s kingdom. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:3)

Poverty provokes humility, faith, dependence, trust, hope, and longing. The poor Christian walks humbly, conscious of neediness, looking up to God.

James exhorts the poor to rejoice and boast in what they have: humility in Christ and the exaltation of being heirs of the kingdom, the Bride of Christ.

Though lacking material wealth, the poor Christian treasures Christ and an eternal inheritance that does not fade away (Eph 1:18). Poverty can make it easier to love eternal things and look upward.

Thank you, Lord, for making it easier for me to love eternal things. Thank you for bringing me down, making it natural to look up. I’m a Have-not in the world’s eyes, but I boast in what I have in Christ.

II. Christians Haves Must Boast in What They Don’t Have

but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

James now addresses rich believers. Some think he refers to wicked wealthy, but the context shows he speaks to faithful rich Christians.

The natural man boasts in self-sufficiency, arrogance, superiority, and security in wealth. But James tells wealthy Christians to boast differently. While the poor boast “up” in what they have, the rich must boast “down” in what they do not have: permanent possession of their wealth.

James uses the analogy of a flower that blooms beautifully but withers quickly under the sun. This image appears throughout Scripture (Psalm 37, 90, 102, 103; Isaiah 40) to illustrate the fleeting nature of earthly beauty and wealth.

The rich Christian knows that wealth is temporary and cannot be taken beyond the grave (Ecc 5:15). This truth humbles and reminds them to love what is eternal.

It is hard to be humble when circumstances encourage pride. Wealth often leads to forgetting Heaven and living for this world. Jesus said it is harder for a rich man to enter Heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

James encourages the wealthy to rejoice and boast in their humiliation, recognizing the impermanence of their riches. This “down-boast” leads to humility and dependence on Christ.

The rich Christian can say, “I have much material wealth, but it is not eternal. My real treasure is Christ and the eternal inheritance.” (Eph 1:18)

Paul commands the rich not to be haughty or trust uncertain riches but to trust in God who richly provides (1 Ti 6:17).

Thank you, Lord, for making it easier for me to love eternal things. Thank you for bringing me down, making it natural to look up. I’m a Have in the world’s eyes, but I boast in what I don’t have, permanent independence from Christ.

The rich and poor Christians boast in the same treasure from opposite perspectives. The poor boast upward in what they have in Christ; the rich boast downward in what they lack, leading both to deeper dependence and love for Christ.

Both rejoice in humility and having their treasure set on eternal things where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the LORD.” (Jer 9:23-24)

In a world of pride that leads to Hell, it is a sweet joy to have trials that produce humble boasts.

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” (Isa 57:15)

III. All Christians Must Boast In What They Shall Have

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James concludes by stating that all Christians, rich and poor, who endure trials in obedience are blessed. To be “approved” means to be tested, examined, and found genuine.

The Christian who endures trials with godly responses demonstrates true faith and love for Christ. This endurance does not earn the crown of life but proves worthiness to receive it.

Trials reveal whether we are truly saved. God knows our hearts, but trials help us know ourselves—whether we are like seed that falls by the wayside, grows but is choked, or grows and endures to bear fruit.

If trials produce godly responses that show love for Christ, we rejoice in what the trial reveals and in the future crown of life.

Christian haves and have-nots alike rejoice in the eternal crown promised to those who love Him.

“When the test is over, then comes the hallmark of divine approval, ‘the crown of life.’ As if the Lord said, ‘Let him live; he has been weighed in the balances, and he is not found wanting.’ Life is the reward: not mere being—but holy, happy, true existence—the realization of the divine purpose concerning us. Already a higher form of spiritual life and enjoyment crowns those who have safely passed through fiercest trials of faith and love. The Lord hath promised the crown of life to those who love Him. Only lovers of the Lord will hold out in the hour of trial; the rest will either sink or sulk, or slink back to the world. Come, my heart, dost thou love thy Lord? Truly? Deeply? Wholly? Then that love will be tried, but many waters will not quench it, neither will the floods drown it. Lord, let thy love nourish mine to the end.” – Spurgeon