Wither and Fade

So, I'm a tad competitive and one of my friends recently mentioned to me that he and another his accountability partner were trying to memorize the books of James. I like the Bible too and also want to memorize more of it- and what better book to start on? So I started memorizing James Thursday, how exciting! A chuunk I'm working on that really stuck out to me is James 1:9-11

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he 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 man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

It seems so backwards... to take pride in what others would pity. Why does one in humble circumstances have a high position? Is this a "last shall be first" type of deal? One in humble circumstances cannot attribute anything good to themselves, to their wealth or knowledge or charisma or social status- these cannot be affectors of change for those who do not have them. The one who is rich is in a low position, and why? Because he will pass away- all that makes him rich by the world's standards won't matter when you go to heaven or hell and don't bring anything much with you. If a rich man's beauty is only in the outer blossom one can see and not found in the depth his roots go into Christ and his Word then he will fade away- he will not be constantly fed from the Source.