Take Pride in Your Low Position

In James 1:10, the rich are urged to take pride or boast in their "low position." What is this low position? Some think it refers to our identification with Christ as believers, which the world views as a "low position." In other words, don’t boast about your wealth or status or influence. Boast about who you are in Christ. Even though the world views it as a low position, it’s the only status that ultimately matters. Others think James is using scornful irony to urge an unbeliever to boast in his future low position (literally, humiliation) - i.e. condemnation - when he is judged by God.

But from the usage of the word and the context, I think that the low position James is talking about is our frailty as humans (cf. Acts 8:33; Philippians 3:21). Our life here is transitory. We are like a plant under the scorching sun: we will wither, our blossom will fall and our beauty will vanish (James 1:11). No matter how great our possessions, we will be brought low. What we have here will fade away. Material riches and a comfortable life – they are all temporary. In fact, we can drop dead at any time, even as we’re going about our daily business. James says with some irony that we should take pride in this reality, and what he means is that the transitory nature of our existence should humble us, so that we live with heaven and eternity in mind.