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Today’s Teaching

Chosen To Be Rich in Faith

Sandy Johnson

Day: 10 | Plan: James 2024

Start Here: James 2:5-7

Key Verse: James 2:5 (ESV) "Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?"

Major Moment: God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith.

Although only 10 years old, my daughter is one of the kindest, most generous and most compassionate people I know. When she sees people asking for food or money in a local park, she always asks what we have to give. She treats people with kindness and politely starts a conversation as she gives whatever she can. Conversely, I can't think of a time she's been impressed by the possessions or appearance of someone the world would consider wealthy.

In the same way my daughter shows kindness and respect to those in need in our community, James encouraged the Jewish Christians in today's Scripture reading to do the same: to recognize that the poor and the rich both deserve equal respect and that there is no place for favoritism based on a person's wealth, especially in the Church.

At times, James' message to the dispersed Jewish Christians (James 1:1) reads more like a stern lecture than a friendly letter, and today's verses are evidence of that; however, James did soften his tone by referring to his audience as "beloved brothers" (James 2:5). As we see in our key verse, James wanted to get their attention by saying, "Hey, friends, I love you, but you need to listen up!" (That's my paraphrase in modern language, anyway.) The Greek word he used for "listen" is akouo, which means "to hear and understand."

James warned believers to stop giving preferential treatment to people who were rich and reminded them how they'd been oppressed and taken to court by the very people to whom they were showing favoritism (James 2:6)! Sometimes we're so impressed or intimidated by wealth that we may automatically defer to those who have it, without holding them to the same moral standards as other people. But James encouraged his audience to remember that God has "chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom" (James 2:5). James wanted the Church to start viewing others as God does: as inherently valuable and loved by Him (1 Samuel 16:7).

During His ministry, Jesus often emphasized that He chose people who were poor to be "rich in faith" (James 2:5) because they were able to see how God met their every need and how they depended on His generosity (Luke 11:9-13; Matthew 6:25-33). Jesus taught that riches can be a hindrance to faith and lead us to think we can meet our own needs rather than depend on God (Matthew 13:22; Mark 10:23-25).

What Jesus and James didn't say is that the poor are inherently more godly than the rich. Financial status does not influence how anyone is seen, treated or loved by God. He created every human in His image (Genesis 1:26-27) and shows no partiality to anyone (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).

To God, we are all spiritually poor sinners in need of His rich grace. Our salvation can never be secured by status or money but only through the invaluable gift of Jesus, who gave His life to pay our sin debt that no amount of money ever could reimburse (Colossians 2:13-14). He fulfills every need we have, and it's wise to remember that our greatest need is for the salvation made possible through His resurrection.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for fulfilling our every need. Teach us to be generous with the gifts You've given us, to help those in need, and to rely on You alone. Because of Your free gift of salvation, all who trust in Jesus are rich in faith and heirs of Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.