The Royal Law

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?  But ye have despised the poor, Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”  James 2:5-9

James said that God chooses the poor to bestow upon them great faith.  James doesn’t mean that only financially poor people make up His kingdom.  There are and have been people of great wealth who have become followers of Christ and use their wealth to help the poor and help build God’s kingdom.  However, riches usually work against God’s kingdom because many folks who are wealthy depend on their riches rather than depending on the Lord.  I suppose if a poll was taken, there would be a greater percent of lower and middle class folks who have been born again than the percentage of rich folks who name the name of Christ.  Most of the celebrities and politicians, many of whom are very wealthy, never give God the credit for their blessings.  Some of them say they believe in God, but their actions, policies, and speech deny that they truly know the God of the Bible:  by their fruits they are known (Matthew 12:33).

Contrary to the wealthy’s dependence upon their riches, the poor and those who have not riches, prestige, power, and influence are more likely to depend on God to sustain them in this life.  Not all, of course.  There are plenty of folks who blame God for their misery, but misery comes when folks fail to acknowledge Almighty God as the sovereign Lord of all creation.  Thus, being poor doesn’t necessarily make one rich in faith.  However, being needy can help some see their need for the Savior.

Most people look forward to a better future.  Believers who have little of this world’s goods look forward to heaven where no one will be hungry, sick, or oppressed.  Many years ago, when I was a child, most people, except the few who were rich, struggled to make ends meet, even the middle class.  In church, we sang many songs about heaven because we looked forward to a time when all the struggles of the daily grind would be left behind, and we would enjoy the peace and comfort that living with the Lord in the paradise that He created for His followers would bring.  Fast forward to today:  prosperity has caused many to stop focusing on heaven and more on the here and now.  There are preachers whose messages present how we can have it all–a good and prosperous life, health, wealth, fame and fortune–a prosperity gospel with little or no mention of denying ourselves as Jesus urged in Matthew 16:24.  We sing few songs about heaven, our true home.

James reminded his readers of their own prejudices and unfair judgments.  This is speculation on my part, but it seems that James’ audience was predominantly made up of “middle class” folks, neither rich nor poor because he accused them of despising the poor but showing favoritism to the rich.  He also reminded them how the rich used the middle class and the poor to advance their own agendas.  If the rich thought they could squeeze one penny out of the poor, they would bring them to court.  The rich wanted it all and wanted all others to have nothing.  Why in the world would anyone look up to those who would stab them in the back if they had the chance?  Not very much has changed.

James wanted his readers to consider how the rich would blaspheme the name of the Lord, the One whom they served, worshiped, and followed.  That was the absolute worst thing that they did.  How could a true believer ever consider a rich blasphemer to be held in high esteem?  If they treated Christ that way, they would treat His followers the same or worse.  I think James wanted his readers to remember and rejoice in the fact that they were the true heirs of all that God has, but, instead of undue respect for the rich, they were to pity them because they had lost out on the true riches which is only found in a right relationship with Christ.  Riches can never produce joy, but rather a temporary euphoria which, in the end, leaves one empty and without hope.

James has warned his readers of the danger of respecting persons, particularly because of socio-economic factors, but also in all other areas of life.  He gave a remedy to keep oneself from the guilt of such judgments in partiality:  follow what Jesus called the second part of the greatest commandment, “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39), referred to as “the royal law” which was first stated in Leviticus 19:18.  Our neighbor includes all people.  Thus, to love each one because he or she is one whom God created, who has a soul worth saving, and whom God loves, we are fulfilling the royal law.  However, if we are picking and choosing those whom we think deserve our love, respect, and honor, we are guilty of the sin of partiality, prejudice, and having a judgmental attitude.  Only the Lord has the right to judge, and His judgments are righteous and perfect.  He loves each individual, but each individual is accountable to Him for how he or she conducts his or her life.  James’ writings serve as admonishments to keep this fact always in mind.