James 2:1-7
[1] My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. [2] For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, [3] and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” [4] have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? [5] 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? [6] But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? [7] Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
Head: In verse 5, what does this passage say about the poor that have Christ?
Heart: Do you see that before knowing Jesus, you were spiritually poor? But do you now see your spiritual riches in Christ?
Hands: How can you help someone see that Jesus makes the difference in being spiritually rich or poor?
This world is filled with both rich and poor people. Be we much learn to see people with God's values, not human values. God is not impressed by worldly riches, as He has far more and is worth infinitely more than any human being. And He does not treat people differently, according to what they have or what they do not have. Rather, God sees into the heart and sent Jesus to meet our deep need for Him.
If we give someone favorable treatment because they have something to offer us and give someone unfavorable treatment because they don't have much to offer us, then we are putting up walls for both people. For the first person, they may be blind to their need for God because they think they have enough in this world. Thus, my acting the same way, we are making them more blind. And for those that we treat in a lesser way because they don't have much possessions or position in a worldly sense, we can put a barrier in them of knowing Christ's love and salvation.
May we meet the needs of the poor and defend those who cannot defend themselves, for this is the heart of Christ. And may we help them to see that they are rich in Christ, who is their all in all!
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Devotional Guide:
1) Pray for understanding in your mind, for trust in your heart, and for powerful obedience in your daily living.
2) Read the passage and mark anything that blesses you, challenges you, or raises a question.
3) Reflect on the passage. What's God saying about Himself? What's God saying about you?
4) Pray in response to what God puts on your heart through the Word.