James 1:9-11

9Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.  11For 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.

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You know the feeling after a long, cold winter when a gentle rain comes and warms the earth?  It melts away any trace of a harsh nip.  Green blades of grass then poke through the soil, flowers stretch their stems and bloom, revealing the vibrant colors beneath the bulb.

But just as quickly as they came, they disappear.  Summertime takes over and the heat of the sun almost seems to much for these helpless plants.  They wilt and die before we can fully appreciate their beauty.

This is how the rich are illustrated in James.  When James describes the "rich man" I believe he is referring to those whose lives revolve around money, things, and the possessions this world has to offer.  So it is very important to pay attention when James tells us that "the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits".

I don't know about you, but I do not want to be that rich man.  I do not want to be the one following after everything except Christ.  Our focus should be on Him alone because He's the only one will last forever.