“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?” (James 2:5) “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.” (James 1:9-10)
There is a notion afoot that money can circumvent any problem. Many Christian believers are tempted to reason, “If a person has money, they can buy their way out of almost any trouble. They can buy a new car that never breaks down. They can hire babysitters to give them a break from their kids. They can afford the best medical and dental insurance. They can hire attorneys to intimidate other people in order to get what they want. With money in their pockets they can skirt around any of life’s adversities. The rest of us must struggle beneath the heel of hardship.”
But God sees things differently. If He gave us a comfortable life, it would be like skipping classes in the most important and prestigious school. For God has enrolled every believer in Christ’s School of Hard Knocks through which He plans to forge and shape us into the image of His Son. He’s preparing you to stand before Christ’s Judgment Seat (2 Corinthians 5:9-10) and is fitting us for eternity in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Hebrews 12:4-11). Our text tells us that God purposely withholds wealth from most of His children to that they will become strong in faith. Thus, they should never feel “under-privileged,” rather they can boast in their “high position.”
Then, can you imagine the ramifications of “cutting class” through your wealth, of skirting around life’s most important and hardest-learned lessons? “Tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope,” wrote Paul in Romans 5:3-4. James says the same thing in James 1:2-3. What, then would be the consequences of trying to skirt around life’s adversity, disappointment, and pain with our money and political maneuvering? Will it leave us to face eternity as a spiritual midget, forced to mingle with the towering giants who bravely faced life’s battles? Will it leave us like a “peacetime veteran” who always skirted deployment and hardship tours – and now has to “duck out” whenever the real veterans tell their war stories? Sure, you once wore the uniform. But now you wish you had more bravely faced the challenges of military life, instead of skirting them.
So never be envious of those who have the money and privileges to dodge life’s troubles. Be glad that God treats you as a “true son” in whom He invests the very best training and discipline that the blood of Jesus Christ could buy (Hebrews 12:7-11).
REFLECTION
- Can money and wealth really shield us from trouble? Doesn’t wealth bring its own measure of stress to our lives? And won’t it make us a target for the greedy and envious? Can health insurance keep us from sickness or injury?
- Let’s seek God’s kingdom and righteousness and let God take care of the rest.
