Based on James 2:1-17 (New King James Version)
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Sholem Aleichem said: “Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.” In today’s passage, we are taught a very basic Christian foundation, that we should treat everyone the same, and that we should be more attentive to the needy then to those that have much. It doesn’t mean that we completely forget about rich people (because they have much spiritual need), but that we need to concentrate on the very obvious. The obvious is that life is much harder for those that lack basic needs than those that have those areas covered. If someone thinks that it is only about spiritual help, then they need to study the Bible a bit more, and understand what God wants us to do. If they still don’t get it, then it’s necessary for them to experience a week without food, clothes and shelter (for starters).
The Word of God is very clear; that we need to help. As Christians, it is a part of our spiritual walk. Without giving being a part of our lives, our spirituality really does not mean anything to God. John the Baptist said: “Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’ So the people asked him, saying, ‘What shall we do then?’ He answered and said to them, ‘He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.’” Luke 3:7-11.
Some may say, “Well, I’m not rich.” And I would have to say that that’s what rich people usually say, when they are oblivious to the world that surrounds them. Obvious wealth is when you have two of something when you only need one. For instance, if you have two houses when you only need one, you are rich. If you have two cars when you only need one (and actually people still use public transportation, and they are not poor either), then you would be rich. When you have a closet full of clothes and more shoes than days in a week; then yes, you are pretty rich. When you are worried about gaining weight (or are overweight) because of over eating, that means you have way too much access to food, and yes, that makes you pretty rich. And wealth comes in different forms; not just money and possessions. So, when you compare that to someone who has nothing, then you start to realize the big difference. You get the picture, right?
God taught us valuable principles through parables. He taught us the following regarding responsibility and having too much. “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:42-48. So, it is God’s expectation that if we are given much, we need to share much. Eating, and drinking, and treating your neighbor unjustly is not tolerated by God, especially when God has entrusted you with much. It doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy what you work for, but you can’t live life just thinking about the next good time without any regard for the needs of your neighbor. It’s sin! And rightfully so! It’s cruel to fatten yourself up (if you will) without any regard for others who have nothing.
And finally, we need to be wise on how to help, and how to administer what we have. God is willing to give us all the wisdom we need so we can know how to help, and also be able to enjoy it at the same time. For it says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5. If your heart is in the right place, and you are seeking God’s wisdom, He will guide you on who to help and how to help. But at the end of the day, it may not matter who you are helping, because we should ultimately do everything for Him. After all, is it not God the one that allows for you to have everything you have? So, are you wisely supplying needs, managing the wealth God has given you? Or, do you need for God to take it away so you learn how to appreciate what He gives you? Lord bless! John