James 2:5-7

Passage

Hear, my beloved brothers and sisters: did not God choose the poor by the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom – of which he promised to those who love Him?  But you dishonored the poor one.  Do not the rich ones cause you dire oppression and do not they drag you into court?  Do they not blaspheme the good name which has been attributed over you?

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

James takes this argument out of the realm of the hypothetical and makes it quite real.  We get a sense in these verses that James is no longer speaking about some generic teaching but actually correcting behavior that these Christians have done.  They have dishonored the poor in their midst.  They have behavior among them that needs to be corrected.  They have elevated some people up to a great position while leaving others in a poor station.

Is this a fault that we all bear?  Why is it easy for us as human beings to elevate some in our midst while not elevating everyone?  Why is it easy to make this distinction based upon a person’s wealth?

Second Thought:

James talks about the poor as being the heirs of the kingdom.  In this instance, James is actually talking about the poor with respect to wealth.  This is not a “poor in spirit” but rather a “poor in economics” word that James uses.  The reality is that we do find more faithful among the poor than among the rich.  What need does the typical rich person have of God?  The poor person often needs to depend on God just to bring them through the day.  James isn’t saying you have to be poor to be an heir.  He is merely saying that it is simply far more likely.  The poor love God because they have no other source of hope in their life.

How do you love God?  When do you love God?  Does your wealth ever get in the way of your love for God?

Third Thought:

James also desires that his readers take an honest look at who it is that causes them trouble.  Is it the poor – who cannot afford lawyers and who don’t have connections – that cause them problems in life?  Or is it the wealthy and the connected that bring persecution into the life of the church?  When we attempt to do something, we will not likely be oppressed by the powerless!  No, it is the powerful that oppress us because they have the power to do so!  Thus, James asks an important question.  Why do we cater to those who are most likely to oppress us?

How do you think most churches relate to the rich and influential?  How are most churches treated by the influential?  How do most churches relate to the poor and the non-influential?  How do most poor and non-influential people relate to the church?

Passage for Tomorrow: James 2:8-13