James Expounds on Faith Volume 19

 Avoid, Abstain, & Abhor the Sin of Partiality Part 2

James 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? KJV Note:NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James wanted those scattered Jewish believers (and those of us today and in every era and generation) of our Lord Jesus Christ to closely listen to his instruction concerning this matter of showing favoritism to the rich over the poor by reminding them and us of the true and genuine impartiality to all sinners our Lord Jesus Christ has shown and continues to show with His willingness to receive anyone who will come to Him in repentance and faith despite their earthly status or position in this temporal world 🗺, as it is written for us by the Apostle James with these words, "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?" (James 2:5) (KJV). Our Lord Jesus Christ does not make any distinctions between a rich sinner and a poor sinner (the people of this world 🗺 do), but instead, He (Jesus) makes all who come to Him 'rich in faith' meaning that as a true believer in our Lord Jesus Christ any poor man 👨 or woman 👩 is now 'rich in faith' because of their/our access to, association with, and affiliation to Christ Jesus our Lord, as it is written of Him by the Apostle Paul with these words, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) (NKJV). Faith + Grace makes us rich more than having all the riches on the earth 🌎, for let us remember these words from our Lord Jesus Christ speaking of some of those who are rich in earthly things, "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22) (NKJV) and also these very penetrating, piercing, and powerful words, "Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.' (Mark 10:23-27) (NKJV). Let us also not forget what our Lord Jesus Christ wrote through the Apostle Paul making this same point so very clear, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) (NKJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 2:5, "Believing Christians are rich in title, and in being heirs of a kingdom, though they may be very poor as to present possessions. What is laid out upon them is but little; what is laid up for them is unspeakably rich and great. Note again, Where any are rich in faith, there will be also divine love; faith working by love will be in all the heirs of glory. Note once more, under this head, Heaven is a kingdom, and a kingdom promised to those that love God." Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 2:5, "And the poor have the Gospel preached to them. These believed on the Lord Jesus, and found His salvation; while the rich despised, neglected, and persecuted Him. These had that faith in Christ which put them in possession of the choicest spiritual blessings, and gave them a right to the kingdom of heaven. While, therefore, they were despised of men, they were highly prized of God." Here also is what Albert Barnes had to say of James 2:5, "The Apostle now proceeds to show that the rich, as such, had no special claim on their favor, and that the poor in fact might be made more entitled to esteem than they were. For a view of the arguments by which he does this, compare the analysis of the chapter. Those who are poor so far as this world is concerned, or those who have not wealth. This is the first argument which the Apostle suggests why the poor should not be treated with neglect. It is, that God has had special reference to them in choosing those who should be His children. The meaning is not that He is not as willing to save the rich as the poor, for He has no partiality; but that there are circumstances in the condition of the poor which make it more likely that they will embrace the offers of the Gospel than the rich; and that in fact the great mass of believers is taken from those who are in comparatively humble life. The fact that God has chosen one to be an 'heir of the kingdom' is as good a reason now why he should not be treated with neglect, as it was in the times of the Apostles. Though poor in this world's goods, they are rich in a higher and more important sense. They have faith in God their Saviour; and in this world of trial and of sin, that is a more valuable possession than piles of hoarded silver or gold. A man who has that is sure that he will have all that is truly needful for him in this world and the next; a man who has it not, though he may have the wealth of Croesus (a very wealthy man 👨, the last king of Lydia who died in 546 BC), will be utterly without resources in respect to the great wants of his existence. 'Give what thou wilt, without thee we are poor; And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.' Faith in God the Saviour will answer more purposes, and accomplish more valuable ends for man, than the wealth of the Indies could: and this the poor may have as well as the rich."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…