Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they 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 will fade away even while they go about their business.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. - James 1:2-18
The gospel is universal, but its implications for the necessary transformation are different for each person. In these verses, James highlights how the gospel should apply to those who are poor and struggling and to those who are rich and secure.
For the poor, James recommends the gospel's emphasis on their position as co-heir with Christ--a sharp contrast to how the world is treating them and distinct from how they might see themselves. Do not doubt that you are special in God's eyes; that you have equal access to the blessings that are in Christ. Things might look bad now, but eventually your true status will be revealed.
For the rich, James recommends the gospel's emphasis on how what they have is fading and of only temporary value. This is in sharp contrast to how the world is treating them and distinct from how they might see themselves. Do not consider what you have and what you current position as any testimony to your value. Do not cling to them as if they have any lasting value. Things might look good now, but eventually the true value of what you've accomplished will be revealed.
As a follow up note, it is a problem when these gospel recommendations are shared with the wrong audience. If we tell the rich how exalted they are, they will take it for granted. If we tell the poor how fleeting their life and all that they have done in it, they will despair. We must be careful to attune our hearts to our true desperate need for Christ's help and our true situation because of God's favor.
