The poor are shunned even by their neighbors. But the rich have many friends. He
who despises his neighbor sins. But blessed is he who is kind to the needy. ~Proverbs
14:20-21
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring, and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You, stand there,” or “sit on the floor at my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ~James 2:1-9
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. ~Hebrews 13:2-4
A certain Pastor was called to candidate at a prominent church in his area. To test the character of the congregation, he decided to come to the church that morning dressed in rags, unkempt, and in his manner, assuming the appearance, of a homeless person. He came to the door of the church and attempted to enter. One person offered him a ride to the homeless shelter. Others gave disapproving glances. Everyone steered clear of him, almost acting as though his condition could rub off on them.
When he managed to make it to the lobby, he was discouraged from entering, but as he insisted, he was given a place in the back, in the overflow section of the sanctuary. When he tried to move closer to the front, he was blocked and encouraged to leave. Of course, the pastoral candidate didn’t make the appointed appearance that everyone was expecting, the church was left without a sermon that morning. They didn’t know that their expected candidate had been there in disguise.
However, they received their sermon a few days later, in the mail, as part of his decision not to take the position at the church. He explained that he was the beggar who attended church the previous Sunday. He was not impressed with the way he was received and would only consider the offered position, if they were willing to work on changing their hearts and attitudes toward those in need. If they weren’t, he suggested that, perhaps, they would rather look elsewhere.
We can’t really help it, but we see people in categories all the time. Some divisions are obvious, such as language. Some see appearance such as skin color or nationality. We make class distinctions such as rich and poor, democrat and republican, more educated or less so. We even put personalities in categories.
When I was in seminary, Kathy and I had to take a personality test, known as the Myers-Briggs, that categorizes personalities into 16 subgroups. Other personality tests describe personalities as beavers, otters, golden retrievers or lions. One of the latest fads is the Enneagram that puts people in nine different categories. It’s pretty common for those who like the Enneagram to introduce themselves as a “1,” or a “5,” assuming that others will understand. Just as an aside, our oldest son Matt, is really into this so, Kathy and I both know our numbers. I’m a “9,” and Kathy is a “6.” Just in case you were wondering.
It’s sort of fun and a way of trying to get to know each other, but the worst category division that can be made is, “us,” and “them.” You probably hear a lot today about “Herd immunity,” referring to the virus, or, “herd mentality,” referring to like-minded people. We do tend to travel in herds. The more we can move with people who look like us, act like us, and think like us, the more comfortable we can be.
It’s also pretty common that we tend to be attracted to those who can improve our herd, either by making us more comfortable or better accepted in the community. So, when James is talking about the natural tendency for those in the church to be more welcoming to the rich, because they can provide comfort and status, James is just acknowledging a human attitude that already exists, and is speaking out against it.
Kathy and I have been in church situations over the past 26 years, with people who were afraid to make decisions that would go against people who were thought to be major contributors, for fear of the loss of income. We have also dealt with those over the years who thought they should have more pull because of their contributions. The issue that James addresses here has not gone away.
“The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends” The question for the church is always, who is the true friend and who has the true wisdom? We would also do wrong to assume the reverse, that the poor are somehow wiser, or that the rich are only out to wield power and influence. What we need to always remember in the church is that everyone is equal at the foot of the cross. There are no categories. There is Christ, the sinless one and there is the rest of us who are only at the foot of the cross because we recognize our need for His saving grace and forgiveness of our sin.
If one person has more financially, that may be their gift to the congregation and the body of Christ. “He who despises his neighbor sins but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.” The poor may have more physical needs and those who can, should be willing to meet those needs. However, the poor also have their gifts that are equally important to the body. We should listen to the poor because they may have an understanding as to how to reach the lost that has not occurred to the wealthier members. It’s a continuation of the theme of taking the time to listen and consider, not bully our way to what we want, but work together, beyond groups, across divisions and categories to becoming One for His cause. Who knows, we may be working with angels without knowing it, or future pastors. What an awesome idea!
Prayer: Father, help me to truly love my neighbor as myself, and to see myself as their servant, not master. Help me to show proper respect to every person, neither favoring nor despising anyone, at least not by first impression. Help me to see everyone as an actual or as a potential brother or sister in You. Help me to see Christ in everyone. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: We All Bleed the Same
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring, and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You, stand there,” or “sit on the floor at my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ~James 2:1-9
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. ~Hebrews 13:2-4
A certain Pastor was called to candidate at a prominent church in his area. To test the character of the congregation, he decided to come to the church that morning dressed in rags, unkempt, and in his manner, assuming the appearance, of a homeless person. He came to the door of the church and attempted to enter. One person offered him a ride to the homeless shelter. Others gave disapproving glances. Everyone steered clear of him, almost acting as though his condition could rub off on them.
When he managed to make it to the lobby, he was discouraged from entering, but as he insisted, he was given a place in the back, in the overflow section of the sanctuary. When he tried to move closer to the front, he was blocked and encouraged to leave. Of course, the pastoral candidate didn’t make the appointed appearance that everyone was expecting, the church was left without a sermon that morning. They didn’t know that their expected candidate had been there in disguise.
However, they received their sermon a few days later, in the mail, as part of his decision not to take the position at the church. He explained that he was the beggar who attended church the previous Sunday. He was not impressed with the way he was received and would only consider the offered position, if they were willing to work on changing their hearts and attitudes toward those in need. If they weren’t, he suggested that, perhaps, they would rather look elsewhere.
We can’t really help it, but we see people in categories all the time. Some divisions are obvious, such as language. Some see appearance such as skin color or nationality. We make class distinctions such as rich and poor, democrat and republican, more educated or less so. We even put personalities in categories.
When I was in seminary, Kathy and I had to take a personality test, known as the Myers-Briggs, that categorizes personalities into 16 subgroups. Other personality tests describe personalities as beavers, otters, golden retrievers or lions. One of the latest fads is the Enneagram that puts people in nine different categories. It’s pretty common for those who like the Enneagram to introduce themselves as a “1,” or a “5,” assuming that others will understand. Just as an aside, our oldest son Matt, is really into this so, Kathy and I both know our numbers. I’m a “9,” and Kathy is a “6.” Just in case you were wondering.
It’s sort of fun and a way of trying to get to know each other, but the worst category division that can be made is, “us,” and “them.” You probably hear a lot today about “Herd immunity,” referring to the virus, or, “herd mentality,” referring to like-minded people. We do tend to travel in herds. The more we can move with people who look like us, act like us, and think like us, the more comfortable we can be.
It’s also pretty common that we tend to be attracted to those who can improve our herd, either by making us more comfortable or better accepted in the community. So, when James is talking about the natural tendency for those in the church to be more welcoming to the rich, because they can provide comfort and status, James is just acknowledging a human attitude that already exists, and is speaking out against it.
Kathy and I have been in church situations over the past 26 years, with people who were afraid to make decisions that would go against people who were thought to be major contributors, for fear of the loss of income. We have also dealt with those over the years who thought they should have more pull because of their contributions. The issue that James addresses here has not gone away.
“The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends” The question for the church is always, who is the true friend and who has the true wisdom? We would also do wrong to assume the reverse, that the poor are somehow wiser, or that the rich are only out to wield power and influence. What we need to always remember in the church is that everyone is equal at the foot of the cross. There are no categories. There is Christ, the sinless one and there is the rest of us who are only at the foot of the cross because we recognize our need for His saving grace and forgiveness of our sin.
If one person has more financially, that may be their gift to the congregation and the body of Christ. “He who despises his neighbor sins but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.” The poor may have more physical needs and those who can, should be willing to meet those needs. However, the poor also have their gifts that are equally important to the body. We should listen to the poor because they may have an understanding as to how to reach the lost that has not occurred to the wealthier members. It’s a continuation of the theme of taking the time to listen and consider, not bully our way to what we want, but work together, beyond groups, across divisions and categories to becoming One for His cause. Who knows, we may be working with angels without knowing it, or future pastors. What an awesome idea!
Prayer: Father, help me to truly love my neighbor as myself, and to see myself as their servant, not master. Help me to show proper respect to every person, neither favoring nor despising anyone, at least not by first impression. Help me to see everyone as an actual or as a potential brother or sister in You. Help me to see Christ in everyone. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: We All Bleed the Same
Comments
Post a Comment