Bible Reading: Ezekiel 14, 15; James 2
“The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor happy is he” – Proverbs 14:20-21 (KJV)
The body of Christ is the assembly of different set of people. High and low, educated and non-educated, rich and poor etc. There is no church on earth if indeed it called after Christ that does not have these set of people. Factual is the above submission that even Jesus Christ alluded to it: “You always have the poor with you…” – John 12:8a (Amp).
In the days of James the Apostle, this discrimination was obvious and it was affecting the church and people were being affected and thus casting aspersion to their Redeemer. James painted a picture of a rich man who came in to worship and also a poor man came into the assembly with the special attention on the rich individual. James reckoned that partiality had been shown. Hear what the Scripture says: “For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid apparel, and also a poor man in a shabby clothes comes in, and you pay special attention to the one who wears the splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in this preferable seat, while you tell the poor man, stand there! Or, sit there on the floor at my feet! Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming critics and judges with wrong motives! – James 2:2-4 (Amp)
The natural tendency in every man will gravitate to the rich person and this is what God wants us to cast away from among us. Have you also been caught up in this kind of attitude? Get rid of it from your assembly as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who related with all types of people during His earthly ministry. Remember this truth always: God is the Maker of both the rich and the poor, therefore cast away discrimination and favouritism from your midst. Do not be a part to it.
Prayer: I receive grace to relate with both rich and poor You may bring my way in this pilgrimage.
Rev. Julius Oluwole