Good morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from James.
James 2:1-5
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
In our passage this morning, there were people in the church who were looking down on the poor and were treating them differently than those who were wealthy. They were showing favoritism to the rich and despising the poor. The word poor actually means lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.
Proverbs 14:31 – He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
When my wife and I first got married the only stipulation spoken of was that we would never have money, but would have our very basic needs. Before I married her, she was going to have to accept that fact, which she agreed to completely and then we were married shortly thereafter.
Some of the most poorest memories that I can remember are the happiest ones that I have. When you choose a life of poverty while here upon the Earth it means that you will have more time available to seek after God. You trust him for provision. Instead of spending your time amassing more and more wealth, you can use that time to seek after treasures of wisdom from God’s word. We can seek a closer relationship with God through prayer and a dependence on him.
Choosing spiritual riches rather than earthly ones brings a great blessing from God. It comes down to making a decision in one’s life, do you choose a love for God or a love for the world.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
When you love something you seek after it. Some people seek after a new pick or a brand new fishing boat. What happens is they make themselves a slave to these items and work many years to pay them off while they could have taken that time and helped educate others including their families in God’s word. It all comes down to what is going to be most important to you. Who are you going to serve, Christ Jesus or the dollar bill?
Matthew 6:24 – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Moses could have inherited treasures and riches if he had stayed in Egypt, but he turned away from it all. Many people in society today get very upset at people who do these very things. They can’t understand why you’re throwing away all that money or an inheritance. Moses turned away from it because his greatest treasure were the things of God as they should be for all those who claim Christianity has their faith. Moses was a man who chose poverty in order to become rich Spiritually. The Apostles of Christ did the same thing and left their day jobs in order to follow Jesus and to learn from Him.
Revelation 2:9 – I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)…….
The Apostle Paul chose poverty.
2 Corinthians 6:10 – As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things
Instead of living in a palace in Egypt, Moses chose to live simply in a tent with his family out in the desert. When the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt they lived the same way. God made it even simpler for them and provided them with food and water. What a great atmosphere for children to be raised in realizing that we don’t need all these things to be truly happy because God is our source of joy.
Our lord Jesus became poor. He left all the things of heaven in order to come down to the Earth and preach the gospel. He appeared just like everybody else. When they came to get Him in the garden, they couldn’t even tell who He was because Judas had to identify him by giving him a kiss.
2 Corinthians 8:9 – For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
There is a huge difference between what somebody really needs, and what they want.
1 Tim 6:6-10
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Someone who professes Christianity needs to learn to be content with food and raiment. This is a word that many people need to learn in the church. Content means being in a state of peaceful happiness and to be satisfied.
Hebrews 13:5 – ……. be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
How many of you have gone out for dinner somewhere and had a really good meal? Afterwards, you were full and satisfied completely. This is what it means to be content. You’re satisfied with a good meal to eat and the clothes on your back.
Sadly for many people this is not enough for them, they require more and more and more. There is a hole that is inside of their sinful nature that they need to keep filling with money, goods, possessions, and things of this world. There are some people who actually believe that the more wealth you possess, the more godly you are. The Bible instructs us to avoid people with these kinds of beliefs. The warnings in the scriptures are given to the rich people, not the poor.
Matt 19:23-24
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 13:22 – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mark 10:23 – And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
It is the poor who are chosen by God to be rich in faith. Moses became poor in order to become rich spiritually. The apostles became poor in order to become rich spiritually. Poverty is not a sin in the eyes of God, but rather the love for the things of this world and earthly riches which is the root of all evil.
Matt 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Are you one of the chosen ones? Have you become poor so that you can become truly rich in the Spiritual treasures that come from our Lord Jesus Christ?
Let’s think about those things for today and Lord willing I’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️
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