Responsibility Comes with Riches

Responsibility Comes with Riches

Ted Burleson

James deals with the relation of the rich to the poor in several passages in his letter (cf. Jas. 1:9–11; 2:1–13; 4:13–16; 5:1–6). Culture teaches that if one is rich, he is worthy of great honor. James explains that the economically poor brother is the one who should rejoice in his position. The poor do not boast in their accomplishments or the lack of accomplishments. Instead, the poor should boast in what God has done for them through Christ (Jas. 1:9). God has chosen the poor (Jas. 2:5) to be rich in faith and to inherit His kingdom. Faith, not money, is the measure of real wealth.

In contrast, the rich will have their statuses reversed. God will humble the rich and change their positions with the poor. Earthly wealth is temporal. Christians do not need to seek material wealth and fame because of God’s promises that they will receive. Spiritual riches are the only riches in which Christians can boast. Money makes promises that only God can ultimately fulfill.

Scripture portrays the poor as being righteous and generally depicts the rich as evil. Wealthy people can be virtuous, but the temptation is more significant for the rich to trust in someone or something other than God. To be “poor” usually means anyone who has less than we do. For example, American Christians are generally rich compared to the rest of the earth’s inhabitants.

To illustrate the relationship between rich and poor and to demonstrate that the world’s standards of judging success had crept into the church, James describes a hypothetical situation in which a rich man and a poor man enter the same assembly (Jas. 2:1–7). Some favor the rich person and shame the poor. We must never judge people by outward appearance. God knows their hearts. To judge people using the world’s standards is to follow the wisdom of the world.

James’ counter-cultural argument is that instead of using the world’s standards to judge individuals, believers must use God’s rule and consider the heart. If disciples of Jesus are true believers, then they will refrain from judging by appearance and from insulting the poor. James reminds his readers that people are slandering the good name of Jesus because of their actions. To favor the rich is to join the ranks of those that despised and rejected Jesus. Despising the poor is just as sinful as favoring the rich (Jas. 2:7).

Favoring the rich over the poor violates the royal law to “love your neighbor as yourself.” It is more than unethical. It is sinful to exhibit partiality. A Christian cannot love God and judge people by worldly standards. Our churches are full of examples that James would attack if he were writing today. When lawyers, doctors, and executives move into an area, many modern believers compete for their presence at local congregations. Contrast this with the failure to invite poor people to be a part of a congregation. Congregations of successful, self-sufficient people exist in many locations. But Christians are never really self-sufficient. Christians are God-sufficient.

Another weakness in the self-sufficiency of Christians who follow the standards of the world in church relationships is the failure to be dependent upon God for the future (Jas. 4:13–16). A desire for material things leads them to plan their futures in terms of money, profit, and prestige instead of basing their future in spiritual realms.

James wanted everyone, the rich and those who wanted to be rich, to know that riches are unsure and can become a trap. James wanted the rich to weep and wail (Jas. 5:1), because their wealth in which they trusted had rotted. Rotten riches cannot deliver the promised rewards. Instead of stored riches, they receive judgment they have brought upon themselves.

The counter-cultural language of James regarding the rich and the poor should strike modern Christians especially hard. We are rich. It is not sinful to be rich, but we must remember that with riches comes a responsibility to the poor.