Has Not God Chosen the Poor?

Today’s reading is James 2.

Before we consider the ultimate and specific answer to this question, we need to wrestle with the general point James supports. The brethren to whom James wrote were courting the rich above the poor to be in their congregations. They were looking for the social clout having the wealthy among them would bring, the respect their congregation would gain. Perhaps they were thinking about the financial help they might receive if the wealthy became part of the congregation. Maybe they were simply thinking, “If we can get these rich people to join us, they’ll stop dragging us into courts.” However, James reminds us of the general point Jesus Himself made. It is super hard for rich people to enter the kingdom (see Matthew 19:24). Not to mention, in the Sermon on the Plain (a sermon similar to the one on the Mount) Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God…But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6:20, 24, ESV). Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, that God hasn’t chosen the wise, the powerful, the noble, the strong. He has chosen what the world considers foolish, shameful, weak, and low.

Despite our modern concept that having a good relationship with God means being affluent, the poor are much more likely to be in the kingdom than the rich. And let us be perfectly honest: the great majority of American Christians are rich compared to the poor and even the wealthy of the New Testament. With our houses, cars, closets full of clothes, air conditioners, dish washers, laundry machines, computers, phones, microwaves, fast food, vacations, and on and on and on, we might like to call ourselves poor, but the folks receiving James’s letter would not say so. We should not move too quickly past what James and numerous other passages teach us. Wealth is an obstacle. It is dangerous. Desiring it can and likely will lead us into temptation and plunge us into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9). Pursuing wealth will lead us astray and cause our demise (James 1:11). If money is our master, we will despise Jesus and be lost thereby (Matthew 6:24).

All that being said, James is not teaching poverty as the qualification for salvation. That is, not everyone who is poor will be saved. Additionally, having wealth is not the disqualifier for salvation. That is, not everyone who is wealthy will be lost. If those who are rich can exult in their humiliation as God disciplines them with trials (James 1:9-10), they too will be saved. James does give us the actual qualification. The kingdom, like the crown of life in the previous chapter, is promised to those who love God (James 2:5).

But, please, please, please do not wipe the sweat from your brow, sighing your relief, saying, “Oh, good. I’ve got nothing to be concerned about with my riches.” If you have riches, do not set your hope on them. If you have riches, use them to bless those who do not, especially those in the household of faith (1 Timothy 6:17-18; Galatians 6:10). If you have riches, renounce them and their hold on you (Luke 14:23). If God has blessed you with riches, be thankful. Use them to His glory and in service of others. Being blessed with riches is very much like being blessed with a ferocious guard dog. It is a great gift, but if you do not treat it properly, it will turn on you and rip you to shreds.

God has chosen those who love Him to receive the crown of life and the kingdom. Let us be those people. If we have to give up our riches to be those people, let us do it.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 2.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why is wealth dangerous for us?
3. Why is it important to realize the qualification for the kingdom and the crown of life is loving God and not being either wealthy or poor?
4. What or who is the means to salvation for the wealthy and poor alike?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Children from Stones

Today’s reading is Luke 3.

“For I tell you,” John said, “God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” Think about that for a moment. If God is able to raise up children for Abraham from stones, He is able to make children of Abraham out of you and me. I know there are times when we fear we will never amount to much in the kingdom of God. Sometimes, we want to simply give up. Don’t. In His time, God is able to make out of us exactly what He wants us to be. Don’t let go of Him. He has made us into His children and is making us into the kind of children He desires. No matter what, hang on to Him today.

Tomorrow’s reading is Luke 3.