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James 2:6,7

6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong? (NIV)

Did you know that God does not want anyone insulting the poor? James is still on the subject of not showing favoritism.

He wants everyone to understand that the rich and poor should be treated alike. It is an insult to the poor to favor the rich over the poor. Have you ever found yourself doing that, even in the slightest way? I think I have been guilty of such a thing, and I really never thought of it as insulting the poor, but that is exactly what it is.

James was also evidently aware that the richer folks were the ones quick to bring lawsuits against poorer folk. Why? Because of greed of course, besides the sin of self-rightousness. I listen to the news occassionally and find today that even the poor are into law suits for the least thing. I guess in James’ day, only the rich or well to do had the funds to employ a lawyer to bring about a suit and drag a body into court. With our government set up today, you can often get lawyers free, or for a very much reduced price because of low income considerations. But stop and think about this also-who encourages people to go to law against their neighbor? Too often it is lawyers themselves, and of course they are the ones who get the most money out of you. You hear advertisements all the time for lawyers who will help you get "your due" because of this, that or the other reason. The love of money-it is really the root of all evil.

I don’t know if James knew anyone who was considered rich that was actually a Christian, but one thing is certain, he knew plenty of poor people who were. He knew poor folks who were slandered because they dared confess that Jesus was their God. When you read some of the writings of the early church fathers, you discover how quickly Christians were brought to the courts with false accusations being made about them and how unpopular it was to be a Christian. And it was so often the people with the money-in those days of the "noble" classes, the aristocracy, who were quick to slander Christians and take them to court over the least little thing, for they knew it was one way to take what they had.

Now although James seems to be prejudiced toward people of money-experience gave him that opinion-James is even more concerned that the brethren not be guilty of showing favoritism toward the rich people and treating the poor like dirt, or at least as if they were 2nd class citizens. For in the kingdom of God, in the church, there was no such thing as a 2nd class citizen. All were equal before God, rich and poor alike.

Did people in his society and times have the idea that someone could be more holy than another? I am afraid that often tended to be the case, not because of the teachings of Christ Jesus, but because the society in which they grew up drew class distinctions. You had slaves, servants, land holders, merchants, soldiers, aristocracy, nobles, princes, kings,–all these were in their own social classes. This tendency crept into the church and James here is scolding the believers for falling prey to the world’s view of individuals.

Stop and think to yourself. Does social class or distinction play a part in who you associate with or talk with? Does the economic level you live on play a part in whom you associate with? Do you consider the poor as well as the homeless less deserving of your attention than the person down the street who has 3 cars, 4 television sets, a boat in his drive way or an RV, and perhaps can afford someone to do the gardening and landscaping for them.

James is saying-it does not matter what your material station in life is-treat everyone with the same courtesy and same honor. He points out in verse 8 the law we are to obey. I will discuss that in next week’s devotional.

That’s it for this weekend. Hope it finishes out for you with many blessings. God bless and keep you all. The Good News Lady