James 2:5-6a

New American Standard Version

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          Here is something you must understand – God often chooses people who are poor in the things of this world to be truly rich in matters of faith! They will inherit eternal riches in glory beyond our comprehension as a part of God’s promise to all who know and love Him. But you have acted in such a way as to insult those who may be poor in material things but rich in eternal things.

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          There is and old expression that says, “Money talks!”  Indeed, it does but it sometimes says deceptive things.  Because so many things in this world in which we live require money, we assume that if we had an abundant supply of it at all times, life would be easy and care free.  That is not so!  Having an abundance of finances would solve some of the problems that we face – the financial ones.  But it would not solve many more problems that finances are powerless to affect.  Money can buy health care but it cannot buy health.  Money can get you attention from people – often more than you want – but it cannot buy genuine love from anyone.  Money can gain power in business or other enterprises but it cannot buy respect.

          Money can change your life but it cannot change who you really are.  I read a story in the newspaper recently about a migrant worker in the Rio Grande Valley that won the lottery and received millions of dollars.  You would think that his life would have become wonderful from that moment on.  That was not the case at all.  So many people had sought to gain his favor in an effort to get money from him that he had lost trust in everyone, including his own sister.  He still lives in the same modest trailer that he owned before striking it rich and he hardly ever leaves home to get out for anything.  He will send his sister and her family out to eat and pay for it just to get them to bring him something back to his trailer for him to eat.  He has become a fearful and paranoid man.  Money has not necessarily changed his life for the better.

          Money also has an alluring temptation – because it can do so many things in this life, there is a temptation to put your trust and sense of security in it instead of in the Lord.  With all that being said, money is not bad in itself.  In fact, in the hands of those whose hearts are set on the Lord, it has great potential to do good in the work of the Kingdom.  In fact, just yesterday, I saw a wealthy Christian businessman hand a check for one million dollars to the president of the Christian university that I serve as a board member.  With tears in his eyes, he remembered his first gift for the university to help it get started almost fifty years ago.  His latest generous gift was just one of dozens that he has made for the cause of Christ over the last half century.  Yes, there are materially rich people who are also rich in their spirits toward the Lord.

          However, there are many believers for whom God has chosen a life that is not blessed with an abundance of material or financial possessions.  Contrary to some popular teaching, that does not mean that they do not have the favor of God on their lives.  The Lord has chosen a path for them that will increase their sense of faith and trust in Him and Him alone.  Despite any financial struggles, they become followers of Christ who are rich in faith and spiritual wisdom.  Their faithful service to the Lord is stockpiling enormous wealth in eternity.

          In order to live more like Him, we must see people as He sees them.  Let us not be as shallow as the culture in that we only see people through the lens of the material things they own.  Let us see others by the faith their walk with Christ reflects.  As they share those riches with us, the investment will pay dividends in our life and in theirs for eternity.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Ask the Lord to help you to maintain a right perspective about material possessions and finances.  Thank Him for the ways in which He has blessed you in this area but reaffirm your understanding that that all things belong to Him.  Pray that you would see the spiritual wealth in other believer’s lives regardless of how much or little of this world’s goods they possess.

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