James H. Cagle
“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted; but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways” (Jms. 1: 9-11).
The “brother of low degree” is the Christian that is poor materially speaking but who has been made rich spiritually speaking through his faith in Christ Jesus. He is to rejoice because of his exalted status as an heir and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. He may, and more than likely, will, remain poor and therefore keep his status in the world. But whereas before he had nothing to rejoice in, he now can rejoice in the spiritual riches and the blessings bestowed upon him daily by his heavenly Father.
The “rich” brother is the Christian who has been made low or humbled by accepting the reality that he and his riches will quickly and surely pass away and only what he is and has in Christ will last forever. The rich brother may remain rich, or may become poor by giving his wealth away to keep it from being a hindrance in his service to God (Lk. 18: 18-23).
The flower of the field as it withers under the heat of the sun and then perishes is a daily reminded of how frail life is, how fleeting are our material riches, and how one must be prepared for eternity.
The poor and the rich Christian brothers meet together in the church, and the poor brother does not feel inferior to the rich brother and the rich brother does not feel superior to the poor brother because they are both equally rich in Jesus Christ.
The Day I Die
The day I die will be,
The best day of my life,
As death to self will mean,
I finally gave Christ my life.
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I must die before I die,
That I through death might live,
A life that glorifies my Lord,
That He through grace doth give.
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The day I die will be,
The best day of my life,
As death down here will mean,
I’m free from pain and strife.
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I must live before I die,
The life Christ died to give,
For when He died I died to,
That I through Him might live.
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The day I die will be,
The best day of my life,
For God is here and there,
And He will give me a new life.
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The day I die will be,
The best day of my life,
For I can’t live until I die,
The death that gives me life.
James H. Cagle
