God has chosen the poor of this world

James
{2:1} My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.
{2:2} For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; {2:3} And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool
{2:4} Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
{2:5} Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
{2:6} But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?


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How often do we graviate towards those that are clean, and upright, far from anything that reminds of those we call vagabonds, vagrants, bums, homeless street people, scary people. That's what they are to a lot of us- scary people. We fear them more than pity them. Though sometimes even fear turns to digust. Digust, fear, are some even angry at them? We imagine that at least if we aren't like the worst of the worst somehow we are *better* than they are. Being better than someone gives people a thrill of sorts, makes them feel better than they would if they didn't have someone to feel they're better than.


Reading this verse above it tells it like it is doesn't it?


We have respect to those who are dressed nice and have wealth and poise, and we want to please them while we shove those who don't meet those criterea out of the way, we are condescending to them for whatever reason we might come up with- fear, anger, or disgust, comtempt, you name it. Sure there are reasons why- we might assume these people are disease carriers- lice and whatnot, or unhealthy with contagious disease; surely one who looks like they should be sick has more of a chance of being sick. Logically the most well dressed, best looking person in all the world could still be a disease carrier but we don't assume that at all.


This part here- 'Are ye not then partial in yourselves and are become judges of evil thoughts?' That can be taken two ways- someone trying to judge evil thoughts or...having evil thoughts yourself because you judge others unjustly. We have become judges - having evil thoughts about others, putting on airs, being ungodly for sure because Jesus Christ would not act that way and we as his followers shouldn't act that way either. The poor, those who are considered the lowest of the low in our societies are the fartherst from the lowest. It is the world's chosen that underneath all their glitter and false beauty who possess the evil we like to associate solely with the lower society. This isn't to say that those who appear to be vile aren't, but there is a vileness of heart that God knows and we can only imagine.


'Hearken my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world - rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?'


God has CHOSEN the poor of this world-- RICH in FAITH!
Heirs of the kingdom which he hath PROMISED to them that LOVE HIM!


God help us all to realize just how poor we are without Him. It is only with Him that we are rich in faith. Heirs to the kingdom are given the promise, and the heirs are those that truly love him through that faith.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forver, may we be heirs to the kingdom and not those who take on airs looking at the worldly things as those concerned only with worldly things do.


Amen