“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen 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. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?” (James 2:5-7).
Giving honor to whom honor is due is a Scriptural principle (Romans 13:7). Showing partiality to anyone because of his wealth, social standing, political clout, or any other worldly consideration is evil and thoroughly incompatible with godly values and God’s grace.
God’s plan of salvation is determined by poverty of spirit, not financial assets. Not a single spiritual blessing in Christ can be purchased with silver or gold. Treasure in heaven was the only thing the spiritually bankrupt young ruler lacked (Mark 10:21).
It is God’s wisdom and pleasure to give to the poor in spirit all spiritual blessings in Christ. It is those who love Him—not the world’s wise and mighty and noble—who He eternally purposed to make His heirs. God has intentionally chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to put to shame the mighty, and “the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
How out of step with God is the person who dishonors those who God honors and shows preference those who are worldly-minded and profane.
