 |  |
No.4.
pp. 195 - 199
When we come to chapter 2: of this epistle we find that James is still dealing with the
practical expression of the faith of the Hebrew believers to whom he wrote:
"My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your
assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the
one who wears the fine clothing and say, Have a seat here, please, while you say to the
poor man, Stand there, or, Sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among
yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2: 1-4, R.S.V.).
James gives a hypothetical case of two people coming into their `assembly'
(synogoge, synagogue), one rich and the other poor. The rich person gets favoured
treatment and is given a special seat. The poor man in the first instance, is not even given
a special seat, but told to `stand' or if he does sit down, it must be on the floor in a lowly
place. First of all, this denies the fact that in the sight of God all are equal and He is no
respecter of persons and the fact that some who have money counts as nothing with Him.
Secondly, such treatment shows a divided allegiance and is an example of the "double
mindedness" that is condemned in chapter 1: 7 and 8. Thirdly, those who differentiate
between rich and poor in this way become judges, and show an unrighteous and biased
mind. "Judges of evil thoughts" (A.V.) is misleading. The R.V. is correct, rendering it
"judges with evil thoughts" and only this sense fits the context properly.
Such sinfulness is directly opposite to the thoughts and ways of God:
"Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the
world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to them that love
Him?" (2: 5, R.V.).
God's ways are not man's ways. God is concerned with the true riches (note
Luke.xii.20,21). In the same way the Apostle Paul enjoined Timothy:
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy . . . . . that
they be rich in good works . . . . ." (I Tim. 6: 17, 18).
It is not that God has limited His choice to the poor, but He gives them a special place
(Luke 1: 52; I Cor. 1: 26, 27), and makes them heirs of that glorious kingdom which had
been the theme of all the O.T. prophets and one day will be established on the earth when
Christ will return and take control of everything and bring in His righteous rule.
Not only this, but it was a strange thing to single out for preferential treatment some of
the rich who at that time were the violent oppressors of believers:
"Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment seats? Do
not they blaspheme the honourable Name by the which ye are called?" (2: 6, 7, R.V.).