James 2:5-7 says, ” Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith?  Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?  But you dishonor the poor!  Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?  Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ whose noble name you bear?”

This topic is important to James.  He tells us to listen to him.  In some ways, he is telling us the why’s behind the verses that come before and giving us a glimpse of God’s heart.  James wants us to think through our actions and see the poor as God sees them.   


God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith.   This summer I read a book called the Insanity of God by Nik Ripkin.  Most of the book was stories of the persecuted around the world who were rich in faith but had nothing in terms of the material things of this world.  It wasn’t like they even prayed to be rich materially.  They instead prayed to be strong spiritually.  As I read the book, I was humbled by how often I think about the physical and temporal over the spiritual and eternal.   As many Christians flee countries like Syria and Iraq, I would love to her their stories.  What is their faith like?  Do they realize they will inherit the kingdom of God?  For them, is God enough?   

Blessed are those who need God enough to know him enough to love him enough to know he’s enough.

I am also praying that I will need God enough to know him enough to love him enough to know he’s enough.