James Influenced by Riches and Poverty

 

James

Influenced by Riches and Poverty

 

It can be hard not to admire the rich

And hope to get close to them so some of the wealth will rub off

All of us have avoided neighborhood of poverty because of the fear of crime

Both views of riches and poverty, can make us discriminate

So what should influence us?

One of the most profound verses in the Bible about poverty and riches is

Proverbs 30:8-9

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

and say, 'Who is the LORD?'

Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

We have all seen areas of poverty where crime is ramped

And we have also seen the rich commit crimes of oppression

Look at the poor and look at the rich the same, they both need God’s daily Bread

So whether you consider yourself rich or poor

It is not your net worth that makes you valuable or invaluable to God

It is the amount of faith and your inheritance

In the Kingdom of God that determines your net worth James 2:5  

 

Influenced by Riches and Poverty

 

What does it mean to be rich?

 

How much net worth makes a person rich?

 

According to Forbes Estimates…

 

 There were 2,095 billionaires

worldwide by March 18, 2020.

The total net worth of the world's

billionaires is $8 trillion which is $700

billion less than the previous year, 2019.

 

Even the Billionaires are making less money.

 

There are a total of 46.8 million millionaires

worldwide, according to the report, and they

collectively own approximately $158.3 trillion.

October 22, 2019

 

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes

 wish I could get close enough to one of

these wealthy people so some of

their wealth would rub off.

 

Gaining wealth takes determination,

dedication, risk, and a lot of work.

 

Some might read the words of James or

Jesus and get the idea to be rich is evil.

 

Doesn’t the Bible say…

 

 “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

1 Timothy 6:10  

 

Hebrews 13:5 says…

 

 “Keep your lives free from the love of money.”

 

James and Jesus speak a lot about rich and poor.

 

There is one word that is center to every-

thing the Bible says about riches and poverty.

 

The one word is “INFLUENCE”.

 

Money...

 

 The lack of it, or the excess of it,

should never influence us.

 

The Book of Proverbs warns us of living

a life style that will lead to poverty.

 

The words of Proverbs are not trying to

influence us with money so we will not be poor…

 

 But a lifestyle that will lead to our needs being met.

 

 Jesus said…

 

 “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."

 Matthew 19:24

 

Our riches do influence our life in ways that

keep us from the abundant life Jesus came to give.

 

James saw the way the people in the church were

allowing wealth to make them discriminate among

themselves and their judgments

were filled with evil thoughts

James 2:4 

 

There is evil in riches and evil in poverty.

 

Don’t let either one of them influence you.

 

God has chosen the poor in the eyes of the world

to be rich in faith and inherit the Kingdom of God.

 James 2:5 

 

When God is speaking of the poor, he

is talking of those who see their need…

 

Not a need for money and possessions…

 

But a need for the Words of Life.

 

Jesus makes it very clear in Matthew 6…

 

 Don’t run after what you shall eat, what

you shall wear, and where you shall live…

 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

 

Those who are influenced by the Kingdom of God…

 

 Will find what they need comes as a byproduct.

 

One of the most profound verses in

the Bible about poverty and riches is…

 

 Proverbs 30:8-9

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

and say, 'Who is the LORD?'

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God.

 

We have all seen areas of poverty where crime is ramped.

 

And we have also seen the rich commit crimes of oppression.

 

Look at the poor and look at the rich the same,

they both need God’s daily Bread.

 

So whether you consider yourself rich or poor…

 

 It is not your net worth that makes

you valuable or invaluable to God.

 

It is the amount of faith and your inheritance in

the Kingdom of God that determines your net worth.   

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 2:5-7 NIV

 

5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 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?