James: More GraceSample

Is treating rich and poor differently really such a big deal?

James clearly thinks that it is. Showing favouritism just doesn’t fit with being in God’s family, for God does not give rich people preferential treatment. He gives his grace freely to anyone who believes in Jesus.

• What is the difference between how God relates to the poor and how James’ readers do (vv. 5–6a)?

God is not impressed by human wealth. He doesn’t check people’s bank balances before deciding who to welcome into his family. James wants his dear brothers and sisters to look around their church and see that this is true. There are believers in their fellowship who don’t have much money. Those Christians may not have been chosen for jobs with big salaries, but God has chosen them to be ‘rich in faith’ (v. 5). This is the kind of wealth that really matters, for those who love God will inherit his kingdom. That is God’s promise and he is trustworthy. Believers may be poor now, but they have vast wealth coming their way in the age to come. God will treat them very well indeed.

James’ readers on the other hand have ‘dishonoured the poor’. What a contrast! They are behaving just like the unbelieving world and not at all like their Father in heaven.

• What does James say about how the rich are relating to Christ and his people (vv. 6b–7)?

These believers have been looking down on the poor for not having much money and they have totally missed the real issue. What matters is not your relationship with your bank but your relationship with God. Again, James wants his readers to look around. They have been honouring the wrong people. The rich people they honour are blaspheming Christ’s name and persecuting Christ’s people. It is perfectly obvious that these people are God’s enemies. There is nothing honourable to say about them!

James is clearly writing to a specific situation. Not all rich people drag Christians into court and not all poor people are ‘rich in faith’. But there are still very important lessons here. We need to flip on its head the way the world judges people.

What matters is whether people love Jesus or oppose him. Many poor people love Jesus; God chooses them and honours them by giving them his kingdom. Will we honour them in the way our Father does ?

Pray

Ask God to help you honour those the world despises.