Daily Bible Reading – 9.22.2021
James 2:5-7, Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
James is dumbfounded that these Christ-followers would discriminate in favor of the rich. These are the very unbelieving wealthy who were giving the poor Christians all kinds of trouble. Above all, they blasphemed the holy name of God.
It is, generally, true that the materially poor seem to have less obstacles to overcome in becoming people of faith who love the Lord. They can more easily accept that inheritance in God’s glorious eternal kingdom is far greater than any temporal inheritance they might receive in this world.
Repeatedly, we find in Scripture that the poor, not the rich, rally to Christ. On one occasion Jesus looked at his disciples and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
It was the common people who welcomed Jesus gladly. It was the weak, the despised, and the insignificant who followed Jesus. There are exceptions like Zacchaeus and Joseph of Arimathea who appeared to be wealthy but trusted in Christ.
To show favoritism towards the unbelieving wealthy and to discriminate against the believing poor is to dishonor what God honors. We must guard against diminishing the poor for they often are the very fertile ground for faith to grow.
Let us be brutally honest with ourselves and admit: the more we have, the more vigilant we must be in guarding our hearts against creating idols and trusting in the wealth and stuff we have accumulated.
Questions to Consider:
What kind of stuff has a tendency to grab your attention? How are we guarding our hearts against trusting in earthly resources in order to maintain a pure devotion to our Lord Jesus?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 2:12-13, Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.