A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 2:5-7

D2 Believers Should Know Why God Treats Equally James 2:5-7

James 2:5-7 WEL Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn’t God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you, you despise the poor. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Don’t they curse that beautiful name you are named after?

Rich in faith=

• Manser in his Dictionary of Bible Themes lists a number of spiritual riches.
• The greatest is God’s love through the Gospel.

Kingdom=

• The Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven) is the place...
  • Where God reigns. In this world, it is the believer’s heart.
  • A coming kingdom is coming as prophesied in many places especially in Revelation.
  • This kingdom has rules. We might as well start obeying now. The Bible teaches that if we love God, we will keep (obey) His commandments.
    • He shows love to us when keeping His rules (Exodus 20:6, Psalm 25:10, Daniel 9:4).
    • We show love to Him by keeping (obeying) His rules (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3).
    • He knows we cannot do this perfectly, so we have an advocate (1 John 2:1).

Despise=

• Not just ignoring them but despising them.
• The Greek word is ἀτιμάζω atimázō. It means to dishonor, to insult, being rude.
• This can be in desires, words, thoughts, and deeds as any sin.
• Zechariah 7:9-10 NRSV Thus says the LORD of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another;  10  do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.

Rich people

• Money has an effect. It doesn’t make any difference whether Christian or not.
• Seems most people have been treated badly by many rich people.
• God, the richest, does not treat people rudely, so we must follow His ways.

Curse= a blasphemy of God’s character, words, actions, etc.

Beautiful name=

• The Greek word is καλός kalós. It means good in many senses. It has the sense of beautiful, honorable, noble, etc.
• Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
• Philippians 2:9-11 NIV Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• We are Christians. Acts 11:26 NIV and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Questions

• Name some spiritual riches.
• Why should we be laboring for these riches? (Matthew 6:19-24)
• What are some dangers of earthly riches?
• How do we avoid despising our Christian brothers and sisters?