Money and people

"If a man who is wearing a golden ring in bright clothing comes into your meeting, and a poor man comes in filthy clothes, if you look at him who is wearing bright clothes, and say : Sit down here at your ease - and then say to the poor : You stand there standing up ... Have you not discriminated in yourselves, and have you not become judges with evil Reasoning ?" James 2. 2-4

Today more than ever, money is the driving force behind the main activities of "modern man".

The Christian can not entirely escape this : he needs money to live, his work must be profitable ... Since there is a close relationship between social status and fortune, the danger is to make money An idol or a criterion of evaluation among believers. Moreover, a lack of Christian maturity can make us associate divine blessings and blessings, as under the old covenant where material prosperity was promised to the one who was faithful (Deut 8: 18). But the Lord Jesus, who has given us eternal life, has not promised us earthly riches. He exhorts us rather to amass "treasures in heaven" (Matt 6: 19-21).

Alas, we often tend to pay more attention to a "successful" Christian, rather than to a modest person. This is the lesson that James wants to teach his readers. In the example he uses, he reports a "lived" situation that he describes with clairvoyance and vivacity.

If we give more importance to a brother who shows "external signs of wealth", we bear a carnal judgment, based on bad reasoning. More seriously, our judgment is tainted with human "bad thoughts" since we rely on appearances, when the Lord probes the heart (Jer 17:10).

From this point of view, be careful, because other criteria than material wealth (physical presence, elocution easy, diplomas ...) can also lead us to hold in high esteem and not pay attention to this one .

As for those who are rich in the present century, Paul, of course, does not condemn them, but places them before their responsibilities : to do good, to be generous and to share with others (1 Tim. 17-19).

The true believer has no other adornment than humility !

Source (Please the Lord)