The Poor Rich in Faith James 2:5

As James continued to exhort his readers concerning preferential treatment of those who were wealthy over those with meager means, he didn't want them to be “partial in” themselves and “judges of evil thoughts”. In chapter two and verse five of his letter, James inspired the people to understand how “the poor” were “rich in faith” where we read:

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,

and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?

The verse begins, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,...” James began with the word, “Hearken” which means “to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf, to understand and perceive the sense of what is said”, “my beloved” or “esteemed, dear, favorite and worthy of love” “brethren” which means “a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection in Christ”, “Has not God” or “hasn't the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “chosen” which means “picked out and selected” “the poor” or “those reduce to beggary, begging and asking alms and are destitute of wealth, influence, position and honor” “of this world” which refers to “the circle of the earth and all it's affairs and endowments” “rich” or “one who is abounding in material resources who is abundantly supplied” “in faith” which means “in the belief with the predominate idea of trust or confidence whether in God or in Christ which springs from faith in the same ”. God Almighty has chosen and selected those who are “destitute” to be “wealthy” in “belief and trust in Him”.

The verse goes on to say, “...and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?” James continued, “and heirs” which means “one who receives by lot the portion allotted to him” “of the kingdom” or “royal power, kingship, dominion, rule and dignity” “which he has promised” or “furnished or engaged voluntarily and professed” “to them” which refers to “the heirs of the kingdom” “that love him?” or “those who welcome, entertain, are fond of, are well-pleased and contented with God”. Not only did God choose the “poor” to be “rich in faith”, but He also selected them to be the ones who would receive the “portion” He allots to those who “love Him”.

When we meditate upon these words of James, we see the difference between the way God sees the “poor” and the way most people do. God knows “poor” people have no other source than to have “faith and trust” in Him. They do not rely upon their “means” and “riches” because they are not available. Jesus Christ sees people differently than the world, and those who are “rich in faith”, though they be “poor” in this world's goods, are the most wealthy people of all.

Next time James shares how “rich men oppress” the “poor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ;