DRAWING NEAR
June 21
God's Choice of the Poor
"Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of
this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He
promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor
man" (James 2:5-6).
Wealth and poverty are not necessarily spiritual issues. Many wealthy
people are godly Christians and many poor people are unbelievers. But
generally speaking, God has chosen poor people to populate His
kingdom. Jesus said, "It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easer for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of God" (Matt. 19:23-24). That's because rich people tend to be bound
to this world and have a false sense of security. Many of them not
only reject Christ, but also persecute believers (cf. James 2:6-7).
Regardless of your financial status, if you love God, you are rich in
faith and an heir of His kingdom (James 2:5). That means you're saved
and will inherit the fullness of your salvation and the richness of
God's eternal blessing. That's a marvelous truth!
Don't let riches cloud your good judgment. God expects Christians to
honor and care for their poorer brothers and sisters in Christ. You
can't do that if you're showing partiality to the rich.
Suggestions for Prayer:
If God has blessed you with more resources than you need, be grateful
and ready always to share with those in need (1 Tim. 6:19). If you
struggle to get by, thank Him for what He does provide and for
teaching you greater dependence on Him.
For Further Study:
Read 1 Timothy 6:6-19.
What is God's standard of contentment? What pitfalls await
those who desire wealth? What constitutes true riches?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
James 2:6-7
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you
and drag you into the courts?
7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
1 Timothy 6:6-19
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can
carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in
destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which
some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which
you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the
presence of many witnesses.
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and
before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius
Pilate,
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our
Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and
only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom
no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.
Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty,
nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us
richly all things to enjoy.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give,
willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus Is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
|
