Tiffanie Villasana

James 2:1-7 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor.

Reflection:

I work in the medical field. I used to work (for a very short time) at a clinic that had what they referred to as “VIP patients.” These patients had a special and direct phone line they could call, a special entrance and exit door, and fancier, special color folders that housed their medical files. These VIPs usually had zero wait time and would be seen immediately upon arrival.  These VIP patients were often wealthy and had a certain social rank.

I couldn’t help but think back to this clinic and their unspoken “VIP patient” list when I read this passage in James. Then I couldn’t help but think about how easy it is to get trapped into forming our own list of “VIPs” in everyday life.  Raising my hand here … guilty.  

It’s easy to gravitate to and favor those who look like us, believe like us, and share the same common interests as us. That’s human nature.  

It’s also easy to get caught up in favoring those who appear to be well-preferred in this world or by other people. It’s human nature to not want to feel left out, not want to be the last one called, or not want to be at the bottom of the list. 

It’s also easy to favor (or even pretend to favor) those that use their power or status to oppress others. Sometimes it’s just easier to not poke the bear or ruffle any feathers.

This scripture in James redefines wealth for us. Physical wealth does not equal spiritual wealth. Social status does not equal spiritual status.  

James reminds us in this scripture that God has chosen those who are poor to be rich in faith. To be spiritually poor means we recognize the need for help and for spiritual growth – not only for ourselves but for others also.  Jesus came and accepted the bottom so that we could all be spiritually filled and spiritually wealthy in return. We honor Christ by honoring others.  

If we redefined this concept, imagine what the world could be like. 

What if instead of sitting near people we know at church on Sundays, we introduced ourselves and sat with someone sitting alone?

What if we made an effort to include the new mom and her kids at our playdates, even if it meant reaching out of our comfort zones?

What if instead of using social media to post statements or pictures of shame and distaste for our city officials and elected leaders, we filled our social media with prayers for our leaders – even when we disagree?

What if every time we felt like voicing our concerns about mask-wearing or the lack thereof, we stopped and actively prayed for the many people fighting COVID-19 currently in our city?

What if every time someone expresses an opinion we disagree with, we avoid our knee-jerk reaction to argue and take a few minutes to hear his/her side of the story. If there is one thing 2021 is full of, it’s strong opinions and very few answers. 

What if every time we were wronged by someone, we lifted that person up in prayer and extended grace?

There is something about prayer that levels the playing field. It also speaks to the wealth of our spiritual life, and helps us reframe our mental dialogue to accept rather than judge. As Christians, it’s not our place to judge. Instead, it is our place to love, honor and pray for others as Jesus would.  

The true blessing for those who are spiritually wealthy is not in what they have or what they know- it’s in who they know. It’s in their relationship with Christ. Let’s choose to live without fear of judgment from the world and learn to live without judging others. 

Prayer:

God, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be spiritually wealthy through the life and blood of Jesus Christ. Help me as a Christian to discern and know the boundary between Christ-like discernment and ungodly discernment.  Help me walk with the same humility that Jesus did. Forgive me for when I have failed, were quick to judge, and favored certain people based on what they believe, their social status, or what they had in life. Help me be open-minded in my day-to-day interactions, seeking you always, so that my spiritual cup is overflowing in wealth. Amen.