Meditation
CHOSEN THE POOR TO BE RICH IN FAITH
Text: James 2
11 June 2017
A GLORIOUS THOUGHT
What a glorious thought to read this wonderful word written by James.
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? James 2:5
- The poor of this world
a) The poor of this world is a reference to those who are not wealthy!
b) What does this mean?
i) God has not forgotten the poor
ii) He has given the gospel to them
iii) He sent the Lord Jesus to preach the gospel to them (Luke 4:18)
c) Has God rejected the rich?
i) No! There are many examples of those who were rich but came to faith in the Lord
ii) Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy man who gave Jesus his tomb
iii) Barnabas was a wealthy person who sold his land to serve the Lord
iv) Lydia, a seller of purple, had a house large enough to take Paul and his friends in
- Rich in faith
a) What are the features of those who are rich in faith?
i) There is perseverance and endurance
ii) There is wisdom
iii) There is maturity
iv) There is kind regard for the widows and the fatherless
- Who are these who may be so blessed?
a) Surely not because they are poor!
Yes! Not just because they are poor!
b) Major consideration
Because they have learned to love the Lord
i) There is a special blessing to those who love the Lord
ii) They will be “rich in faith!”
A GOOD TIME TO EXAMINE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Have we grown rich in faith? There is every opportunity for us to become “rich in faith!” Have we pursued this as our goal in life? Let us be deeply challenged to cultivate our love for the Lord our God!