James 1:10 tells wealthy believers to take their humility seriously, because their riches are as temporary as a wildflower in dry grass. The verse is part of James’s warning that worldly status is fragile and that God measures people by something that lasts. James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem, wrote this letter to Jewish Christians scattered across the Roman world, many of whom were poor and some of whom were tempted to envy the wealthy.
And the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
James 1:10 (WEB)
What James 1:10 Means
The phrase “and the rich, in that he is made humble” is an instruction to the wealthy person. James is not saying that being rich is sinful. He is saying that a rich person should accept a humbling reality: their position in this world is no more secure than anyone else’s, and they should think about themselves accordingly. The word “made” suggests that circumstances, or God himself, will bring this humbling about, whether gently or through hardship.
The second half of the verse, “because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away,” uses a simple picture. A wildflower blooms brightly and then fades. The rich person’s money, status and influence are like that bloom. The verse does not promise that wealth will be taken away from every rich person, but it does state clearly that it cannot last forever and should not be the basis of pride.
The Context of James 1:10
James 1:10 belongs to a section, verses 9 through 11, that contrasts two kinds of believers: the poor person who should boast in being raised up and the rich person who should boast in being brought low. This is the reverse of how most people in the ancient world, and many today, would expect things to go. James is turning social expectations upside down, reminding the church that God’s values are different from the values of the marketplace.
Just before verse 10, James warns in verse 7 and 8 that a double-minded person, one who wavers in faith, should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Just after, in verse 11, he uses the image of the scorching sun withering the grass to show that the rich will fade in their pursuits. Read in this setting, verse 10 is not a random comment on money but part of a larger argument about trusting God rather than unstable and fading earthly securities.
Key Phrases in James 1:10
Isaiah 40:6-8
6 The voice of one saying, “Cry!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because the LORD’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”
(WEB)
This passage is the likely source of James’s picture of grass and flowers. Isaiah uses it to contrast the short life of people with the lasting word of God, which gives James’s image of fading wealth a deeper foundation.
1 Timothy 6:17
Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy…
(WEB)
Paul gives a similar warning to wealthy believers, urging them not to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God, who richly provides everything for our enjoyment.
A Short Prayer From James 1:10
Lord, you see the places in my life where I feel secure because of what I have or what others think of me. Teach me to hold those things loosely, and remind me that my worth rests in you and not in anything that fades. When success comes, keep my heart low before you. When loss comes, keep my hope fixed on your word, which stands forever. Give me generosity with what I have and humility in how I use it. Amen.
