The Trials of Poverty and Wealth (1:9-11)
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

Wealth and poverty serve as significant, long-term trials in the Christian life…

Proverbs 30:8-9 – … Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or That I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

James contrasts the poor brother with the rich one, teaching us to think rightly about our material wealth or poverty. The poor brother is reminded of the riches he possesses in Christ. The rich brother is reminded that his earthly wealth is a fleeting thing that has no eternal value or existence.

This exhortation is particularly timely for us who have lived in one of the wealthiest nations and times of human history. The recent attack on the WTC and the Pentagon serve as a reality check to show us that our material wealth is very transitory. Our wealth, or even our lives, can be taken from us in a tragic instant of time. We need to be preoccupied with the things that will endure past the grave.

There is a sense in which a poor brother is often spiritually wealthier than a rich one. Riches can easily become a snare, as we become complacent and self-confident in our comfortable circumstances. The impoverished brother may frequently be driven to prayer to seek from God the things he needs for his daily existence. The wealthy brother, if he prays at all for his daily needs, is often half-hearted or superficial in his prayers—not seeing his desperate and immediate need of God's continued protection and provision.

The wealthy brother needs to realize just how fleeting and perishable his riches are—that God could take them away in an instant—and thus think of himself as being just as needy and poor as the poor brother. He "should take pride in his low position", knowing that his time on earth is short, that death strips us of our earthly wealth, and, once dead, he will be no wealthier than the poor man.

But poverty too can become a snare by providing a temptation to complain or to seek relief through immoral means. The poor brother needs to "take pride in his high position"—recognizing the exalted privilege God has given him of approaching Him in prayer, and of being a child of God who can expect faithful Fatherly provision from the exalted Lord of the universe.

The petitions "Give us this day our daily bread" and "do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil" take on much more significance when seen in the light of such tragedies as the recent terrorist attacks. Although it is often difficult to see the good in such horrible events, we do know that God uses such things to refocus our hope and trust in Him. This is how it is with all the trials of life. The more difficult trials tend to be the most fruitful.

Those who have wealth should remember to seek the treasure that endures for all eternity…

Luke 18:22 – When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Note: I don't think our Lord was demanding that the rich young ruler sell absolutely everything he had, but only that he should sell the excess beyond what he really needed. God had given him abundant wealth so that he could share it with those in need, but he selfishly kept his abundance for himself.

Job 14:1 – Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

Psalm 103:15 – As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Isaiah 40:6-8 – A voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?" All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

James 4:14 – Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

The Crown of Life: The Reward of Endurance (1:12)
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James returns to the theme of perseverance and promises that there is a reward for perseverance: the crown of life. What is this "crown of life"? Will every believer receive such a crown, or is it reserved only for the more mature believers who persevere through trials?

Notice that God has promised this crown to all those who love Him. Surely this includes every believer. Why then does James say that it is only those who have "stood the test" that will receive the crown? It is because God's grace works powerfully in each believer so that each of us will "stand the test". It is presumed that the reason why we would persevere through trials is because we love God.

This doesn't mean we will faithfully persevere through every trial that God sends our way, but if we are truly His—if His Spirit truly lives within us—then He will grant us victory through many of the trials we face, and He will likewise grant to us the crown of life.

The expression "crown of life" appears also in Revelation—

Revelation 2:10 – 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Blessed – (Grk: makarios) used by a prophet of God to introduce an "oracle of weal", just as "woe" (Grk: ouai) introduces an "oracle of woe". When God declares a man to be "blessed", He is blessed indeed! —Far beyond anything we can imagine in this life! God Himself is often declared to be "blessed". Whenever we see this word in Scripture, it should capture our attention and flood the imagination with thoughts of divine blessing, glory and unspeakable joy.

This word is characteristic of the "beatitudes" spoken by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-22), when He pronounced an oracle of blessing upon the meek, the pure of heart, the poor in spirit, etc. James' teaching here very much echoes our Lord's blessing upon those who were persecuted for His sake…

Matthew 3:10-12 – Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Psalm 1:1 – How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

Psalm 2:12 – Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Psalm 32:1 – How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!

Psalm 32:2 – How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Psalm 33:12 – Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

Psalm 34:8 – O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 40:4 – How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

crown – (Grk: stephanos) refers to a wreath or garland that was worn by royalty (e.g. Caesar) or those of exalted rank, and was awarded as a prize to victors in the public games. They were also sometimes made of gold (Revelation 14:14). The New Testament has various ways of describing the "crowns" that believers will receive—
 

stood the test – (Grk: dokimos) approved, tried, accepted, pleasing.

In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called "dokimos" or "approved".
—Attributed to Donald Barnhouse