"...hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom He promised to those who love Him?" James 2:5
That’s probably one of the biggest things I learned during my two trips to Africa. I have very little faith in comparison to the women and men of God there. They have nothing… yet everything. I’ve prayed that God would give me that kind of faith, but I think I’m actually afraid of being put into a situation where that kind of faith would be required.
Do I try to avoid the person on the street who looks like they might ask me for something? If I do stop to help, will I be judged by others for doing so?
What would Jesus do? Would He give them the thing they were asking for…. maybe not… but He would probably have a loving conversation… not talking down to them, but talking about the one thing that will give them everything that they need… having a personal relationship with Him.
What’s going on in my mind when I see people awkwardly trying to fit in to a “rich” church? Do I say to myself… they don’t belong here? Or do I say to myself… that poor person… I hope someone else has a conversation with them.
Do I try to avoid them, ‘cause I really don’t know what I would say...
“… yes it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s royal command found in the Scriptures: “love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law.” James 2:8
Guilty of breaking the, “love your neighbor” commandment? How could I do that if I’m being kind? I think what James is trying to say here is… if I pay more attention to those who have status, money or stuff… than I do to the person who is struggling to get by, who maybe doesn’t fit in, who is thought of as “needy”, then I am not treating others as I would want to be treated. If I was the one who was without… If I was the one who needed something, I would want to be respected and cared for, not treated like an outsider.
I have had a couple of conversations lately that speak directly to the point that James is making in this chapter. One person said that they passed over a needy person on the street because they were afraid of losing something of value that they had with them.
Another person has said that we have an issue in our church with talking the talk, but not walking the walk… not living out our faith, not practicing what Jesus has told us to do. We are comfortable sitting in the pews… in our comfortable homes, driving our nice cars, but do not put our faith in action.
All of those things are true in my own life… I am a sinner… I know that I’m afraid to help someone out, because it interferes with my time schedule, because I want to buy that Starbucks later and if I help that person, then I won’t have enough for my coffee. Come on…. I know I’m not the only one who thinks that… we are selfish… selfish people.
I know that Jesus has said that the poor will inherit God’s kingdom, but what does it really mean to be poor? Does it mean, because I own a house, three vehicles, two dogs, a trailer and enjoy a warm vacation most winters… that I’m not poor and I won’t come into the Kingdom that God has promised? Maybe...
One commentary I’ve read says the poor are people who have little money and whose simple values are despised by an affluent society like ours.
Do I despise the people I see?
”Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-by and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”, but then don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is not faith at all – it is dead and useless.” James 2:15-17
God, help me to listen to your Word, then to actually have the courage to DO IT!
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James 1:21 “the Word planted in you can save you”
Sometimes we think we need to have something to give to the poor – a pair of gloves, maybe a loonie, or some good advice. We panic when we think if we don’t have a donation, that we are of no value. God wants us to show up amongst his poor - to just be ourselves. He created us for relationship and with relationship comes love, frustration, disappointment but also laughter, friendship, care and hope.
Why do we think we need to talk in a profound and meaningful way to the poor? We actually need to listen. We should all do more listening – to the poor, to our kids, to God. God challenges us to come out and be vulnerable, too. Being with the poor strips you of your everyday titles. It is equal at the foot of the cross. I read in a footnote in a study bible that the sin of the rich is pride and the sin of the poor is bitterness. So I guess we are both sinners. And that’s the beauty. Neither one of us is better. That’s what gives us equality. That’s a great starting point. And that way we are both receiving. What makes you think that the poor have nothing to give?
I have learned so many lessons about trust and faith from my poor AND rich friends at We Care. Some are alcoholics, drug abusers, thieves, born again Christians, and some live in fancy homes and others are homeless. There are lots of Christians walking the cold streets of Edmonton who know Jesus better than I do. Some of the best pastors I know are homeless but they have an eternal home waiting for them.
My friend Carolyn is a person with untreated schizophrenia whose conversations are full of delusional remarks but on occasion she will say something that comes directly from God. She told me last Sunday that “I don’t think you realize how God uses each of you at the parking lot. You give us hope. And just when we think no one loves us, you love us.” It was pretty cool to catch that message. I gave her my favourite winter mittens to cover her bare hands and we gave each other a warm hug. We both got what we needed for that moment.
Now James would like that!
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