James 2:5-7 Part 1 of 3

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?

 

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world

Job 34:19  "He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all."

1 Corinthians 1:26-28  Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose those things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

 

to be rich in faith? 

Luke 12:21  "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." (see verses 13-21)

Revelation 2:9  "I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan."

2 Corinthians 8:9  You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

 

Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom 

Matthew 5:3  "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." (see also Luke 6:20)

Matthew 25:34  "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.' "

Luke 12:32  "So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom."

 

he promised to those who love him? 

Exodus 20:6  "But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands."

1 Corinthians 2:9  That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." (Isaiah 64:4; see all chapter 2)

 

(parentheses are mine)

 

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.