Fruit

Human nature has remained stubbornly consistent since the first man and woman woke up in the garden without belly buttons. Given a particular time in history, there might have been more or less fear of the Lord, more or less obedience and faithfulness, but the root of man’s nature remains unchanged. If people of a certain tax bracket act a certain way today, be sure they acted in like manner two thousand years ago.

If those trying to ingratiate themselves to those of a particular tax bracket act in some kind of way today, be certain they acted in like manner two thousand years ago. The old saying that the more things change the more they stay the same has remained true throughout the centuries, and that’s because so has man. We like to tell ourselves that we’ve evolved, that we’ve become enlightened, that we are smarter and more introspective than past generations, but it’s a lie. We lie to ourselves a lot. Perhaps we have to in order to keep from spiraling into depression because it’s not hard to see that the further we get from the simple joys of life and biblical living, trying to replace them with something else, the less happy and fulfilled we are.

Funny how a book maligned by intellectuals for having been written by people beneath them has all the answers to life’s most important questions, while their theories of supplanted emotionality and talking yourself into believing you’re happy despite your tears only work on those delusional enough to believe that gluing on a tail makes them a lion.

I’m glad you have a career and bucco bucks in the bank, but you’re making reservations for one, and the closest thing you have to companionship is a cat that’s frightened of how violently you hug and pet her. There’s a reason it scratches at your face, and it’s not because that’s how she shows affection. It’s no one’s fault but your own that you listened to the narrative being doled out by those who had no interest in what was best for you, rather only what was best for them.

They succeeded in making motherhood a dirty word and family as something you’d never want in a million years, and by the time you woke up and realized what they’d done, it was already too late. Assistant to the executive assistant and a parking spot three rows back is all well and good, but it’s not nearly enough to adequately compensate someone who gave up having a family, children, someone to hold and count on as they journeyed toward the twilight of their existence. But her Instagram is full of duck pictures and posing with a beverage. And that’s all she’ll ever have, and even that will be gone when the account gets deactivated for nonuse.

The same goes for the men who chose to forego family for that sweet, sweet Dodge Viper. How’s that mean machine running, old man? Rusted and put out to pasture decades ago, I would wager.

James isn’t being snarky; he doesn’t hate rich people and wants you to know it. He’s reminding us that people were people even back then, and they acted in like manner even though the times differ.

James 2:5-7, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?”

So, has God chosen the poor by virtue of their poverty? Is that what it takes to be chosen by God and be made rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom? No. That is not what James is saying, and for those who insist that you have to live in a dirt hut and eat crickets in order to be an heir of God’s kingdom, it’s funny how that doctrine is viable only until they’re no longer living in the dirt hut.

Once they move on up to the East side and that deluxe apartment in the sky, the tune changes, as does the doctrine.

The truth of it is that the poor of this world have no fallbacks, no safety nets, nothing they can count on, and no one to run to in their need except for God. Their dependence upon Him, having nothing else to cling to, makes the poor of this world rich in faith, which in turn makes them heirs to the kingdom. Poverty or being poor is not a prerequisite to being rich in faith. That is not what James is saying, but he is making the logical deduction that when God is all you’ve got, and you have to trust Him for everything, your faith will naturally grow and mature.

It’s not that the poor get special treatment; it’s that they tend to be the first to run to God and cling to Him for dear life.

Neither poverty nor wealth will make you rich in faith. Only believing God for greater and greater things will mature your faith in such a manner. You can be dirt poor, but if you never believe God for anything, you’ll be dirt poor both in material things and in faith.

James understood that the inclination of the flesh was to chase after material wealth rather than spiritual. He understood that given half a chance, the flesh would blind the individual to their spiritual needs until life had passed them by, and it was too late to do anything about it.

If you have breath, you have the opportunity to analyze what you’ve been pursuing, and if it’s not God and the fullness thereof, remedy your focus.

The rich are not evil by nature of their wealth. Given half a chance, the poor would be as cold and callous as some who are rich and above the laws most of us are subject to. What matters is if you are His and He is yours, and that’s the message James is trying to make clear.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea, Jr.