Leaves turn yellow out my window, and a handful of flowers linger in my garden. A warm fall descended on Colorado, but with shorter days and cooler nights life sinks to the roots. I love the fall weather, but I miss the blooms. Part of a flowering plant’s beauty lies in its fleeting nature.

James compared the wealthy to a flower: 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.

Flowers fade as part of their life cycle. Simply going about its business, colors wane and petals fall as the plant prepares for winter. James reminds the wealthy among us to remain humble—riches come only for a season.

Which is good for me to consider, because compared to the rest of the world and past history, I’m one of the wealthy ones. I enjoy the Lord’s gifts in my life, but must remember their temporary nature.

When eternity arrives any wealth I possess will burn away, like a paper plate tossed into a campfire, or like the once vibrant red, gold, purple and white petals of the flowers in my beds, now faded to black.

James 1 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Hikmet