James Chapter 1 — Commentary on Verse 11

    Forthesunriseswithscorchingheatandwitherstheplant;itsblossomfallsanditsbeautyis destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

    James continues the simile and at the end of the verse applies it. Nothing needs explaining except the latter clause.

    Willfade. That is, may fade, for the passage is not absolutely definite about what always will be, but simply declares what may be; and therefore the future tense is used. We see many times that “the wicked live on, growing old” (see Job 21:7-10). So the apostle does not say what always happens but what may be, what usually happens, and what will eventually happen.

    Therichman. This may either be taken generally to mean the rich, whether godly or ungodly, or more specifically for the ungodly person who trusts in riches.

    Fade away. The word is used of plants when they lose their beauty.

    Whilehegoesabouthisbusiness. Some read, as do Erasmus and Gagneus, “with his abundance,” which Calvin also approves as fitting the context: “So shall the rich and all his abundance fade away.” However, we follow the general and more commonly received meaning, “in his ways or journeys.” The word is emphatic and refers to that earnest industry by which people travel on sea and land, running here and there in pursuit of wealth; and yet, when all is done, it fades like the flower of the field.

    Notes on Verse 11

    Note1. From the continuation of the simile, note that the vanity of flowers should make us think about the vanity of our own comforts. We delight in pictures, for through them the soul, with the help of the imagination, has a double view of the object—a picture of it, and then the thing itself. This was God’s former way of teaching his people through types; he still teaches us through similes taken from ordinary objects. When we think of them, spiritual thoughts may awake; every ordinary object is, as it were, hallowed and consecrated for a heavenly purpose. So let this be your field or garden meditation: when you see the plants full of splendor, remember that all this disappears in an instant when the sun rises. The text says, thesunriseswithscorchingheat. The Greek word used here is usually translated “scorching wind,” which in the hot eastern countries came with the rising sun; see Jonah 4:8. It was a hot, piercing wind that blasted all things and was the usual symbol of God’s judgments. When you walk in a garden or field to meditate, as Isaac did (see Genesis 24:63), think, “What a picture! But alas, these things last only for a season; they would fade away of their own accord, but more, the east wind will soon dry them up.” In the same way, all worldly comforts are like spring flowers, good in their season but perishable.

    Note 2. Our comforts fade away, especially when the hand of providence is stretched out against them. The flower fades by itself, but especially when it is scorched by the burning east wind. Our hearts should be detached from outward things. Do not make providence your enemy, for your comforts will perish more quickly. You cannot then expect a comfortable warmth from God but a burning heat. There are three sins in which you make providence your enemy:

    (1)      When you use your comforts to serve your lusts. Where there is pride and wantonness, you may expect a burning; certainly your flowers will be scorched and dried up. Salvian has said, “God will rain hell out of heaven rather than not visit for such sins.”

    (2)      When you trust in those comforts. God can brook no rivals. If you make idols of creatures, God will destroy them. When you trust in your wealth, as if it will supply your family’s needs, God will show that riches are useless when they are preferred to the living God (see 1 Timothy 6:17).

    (3)      When you obtain comforts in wrong ways. James 5:3 says, Yourgoldandsilverare corroded.Theircorrosionwilltestifyagainstyouandeatyourfleshlikefire. The fire of God’s wrath falls on your family.

    Note3. Whilehegoesabouthisbusiness. Worldly men pursue wealth with great care and industry. The rich have several ways of accomplishing their ends. What pains people take for things that perish! Observe their incessant care, earnest labor, and unwearied industry, and see how appropriate this would be for heavenly treasure! Secondly, observe such persons’ work and care, and ask, shall an evil desire have more power over them than God’s love does over me? I have loftier motives and a more certain reward (Proverbs 11:18); they are more earnest for an earthly purchase and to heap up treasure for themselves than I am to enrich my soul with spiritual and heavenly excellences. Pambus, in ecclesiastical history, wept when he saw a harlot dressed with great care and expense, partly because she took such pains for her own undoing, and partly because he had not been so keen to please God as she had been to please a wanton lover. We should be ashamed that we do so little for Christ while others do so much for wealth.

    Note4. Whilehegoesabouthisbusiness. All our endeavors will be fruitless if God’s hand is against us. As the flower is to burning heat, so is the rich man in his ways; that is, despite all his industry and care, God may quickly destroy him. “You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it” (Haggai 1:6); that is, they did not benefit from their gains. Peter “worked hard all night” but caught nothing until he took Christ into the boat (see Luke 5:5). So you will catch nothing until you take God along with you (see Psalm 127:1). So, acknowledge providence in order to come under its blessing. Labor withoutGod cannot prosper; laboragainstGod, and against his will, will end in disaster.