Rich And Poor Alike
BRD REFLECTIONS:
(Jonathan Huang, Deputy Director of Administry)
READ:
James 2:5 (ESV) Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Psalm 33:16 (ESV) The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
OBSERVE:
In James’ warning to not show partiality to the rich, he states that God is the one who chooses and judges who is worthy or not. God may well choose the poor to be exalted. He encourages us as mere mortals to “speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty” (v12). Since we receive God’s mercy so liberally, we are to liberally extend it to all that we meet, both rich and poor.
Similarly in Psalm 33, it warns that apart from God, a King receives no salvation. Instead, it is “those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” (v18) that are saved, not those with mere worldly strength.
APPLY:
The stark contrast between rich and poor in today’s passages is striking for me, especially living here in Singapore. While we don’t hear so much anymore about the “5Cs”, it is still ingrained in our psyche. Our worth is determined by our status, belongings, and achievements. That is not God’s way.
As I understand it, in the economy of the Kingdom of God, power is analogous to service. While many in the corporate world think of climbing the ladder in order to reach the top of the pyramid, Christians should think of the pyramid as inverted, where the higher one climbs, the higher the responsibility to serve those we are placed in charge of.
In Wesley, we adopt our own “5Cs” for staff and leaders, namely the core values of Christ, Calling, Character, Community and Competency. My hope is that while we are searching for what we call “leaders” and “staff”, what we really need to find are “servants” of God, who will kneel before Christ our King, and serve others, rich or poor, in Christlike humility.
Many of us Christians who are filled with God’s spirit and gifts, will find ourselves in positions the world deems “worthy”. Let us not forget the source of our worthiness.
DO:
I am reminded constantly to reflect on who I consider as “worthy” and “great” in this world. I must think not of those who have achieved much in worldly terms, but those who have sacrificed and served much for the Kingdom.
Recently at the 4th Lausanne Congress in Incheon, I met many accomplished Christian leaders who are truly influential and are great in the Kingdom. I also met an evangelist from Pakistan who has been beaten, sent to jail three times, and suffered greatly for the Gospel. He is not “influential”, but to me, he is more than worthy and great in the Kingdom.
I will endeavour to judge as God judges, not as my human eyes and heart judge. As I am given responsibilities over others, may I behold their true worth as their Creator does, and serve them faithfully. May the Holy Spirit be my guide.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, You alone are the arbiter of righteousness. Rich and poor will be called worthy in your Kingdom, according to those “who hope in Your steadfast love”. Help us as Christians to value all Your creation as you see them and serve them equally without bias. Help us to be blind to worldly status, so that our eyes may be open to what is truly worthy in Your Kingdom. Amen.
