James gives opposing advice to the poor and rich man because the challenges of each circumstances vary drastically.
The man who struggles to feed his family, who lives paycheck to paycheck tends toward worry and complaining. He wonders why God has not given him more. He may be tempted to envy the wealth of others. James tells the poor man to glory in the fact that God has exalted him by calling him his child. His poverty beacons his faith because his relationship with God is a daily position of trust. He truly is exalted because his relationship with God is intimate (James 1:9).
The rich man tends toward self confidence. It may be more difficult for him to recognize his need for God because all his money provides his desires. God can become to him an idea rather than his very breath. James puts a greater emphasis on the rich man because the rich man is in greater danger of forgetting God. While he is preoccupied, the wealthy man's health continues to fade until he faces death. James reminds him, not to glory in his wealth, but to rejoice in the fact that in his spiritually depravity God has shown him mercy by calling him to be his child (James 1:9-11).
