THE VANITY OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

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. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of Him to whom you belong?

James 1:9-11, 2:5-7

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The world loves to use money to define people and their worth.

Those who are considered wealthy obviously did everything they needed to do to find success, studying hard in secondary education before moving onto college and gaining the knowledge used to do well in their careers. These people are seen as the “upper crust”, those with the power and influence to shape society to their advantage which includes getting richer, of course.

Conversely, the poor are looked down on and stereotyped as being lazy and unmotivated, underachievers and losers who would rather seek public assistance to just barely get by day after day than work hard to get themselves out of poverty. The rich have no time for them because they see the poor as living off of the tax money they pay, tax money they loathe because it subtracts from their bank accounts.

Yes, unfortunately the socioeconomic structure of the world comes down to two groups: those who have and those who have not. It’s true today just as it has been since the dawn of culture ranging back into biblical times.

But what if this isn’t really true? What if there was a greater measuring stick for determining the rich and poor, one that would turn the current structure upside down?

As we look at today’s two scripture passages, one from chapter 1 of James and the other from chapter 2, we find that there is a spiritual assessment of worth that transcends the worldly system as it is set by the very Word of God Himself. Look again at these words here:

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. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 1:9-11

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. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of Him to whom you belong? 2:5-7

Here we find that the end goal in life isn’t defined by the riches a person accumulates because here’s a news flash:

Everyone dies. Every single person.

Death is the great equalizer in society. No one can buy their way out of it any more than someone can avoid it by not being able to afford it.

The scriptures send a message to the rich here. They will “fade away even while they go about their business” just like “a wild flower” that “withers” when assaulted by the “scorching heat” of the sun. No wealthy person has taken a penny of their accumulated treasures with them to the grave and no amount of money can prevent a well-off person from spending an eternity in Hell. In fact, the Lord will judge any affluent person who dishonors or exploits someone who is poor. 

Need an example?

Consider these words from Jesus.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.”

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’”

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’”

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’”

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’”

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’”

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31

Here we have a parable that speaks to the worthlessness of worldly prestige and prosperity.

The rich man, having placed his accumulation of riches over realizing his need for salvation, dies and end up in Hell, begging to go back and warn his relatives to not make the same mistake.

Conversely, although the beggar Lazarus appeared to be destitute and unbelievably impoverished, he was actually the richer of the two men because he had chosen to believe in Jesus and gain salvation. His choice to be rich in faith, trusting the Lord during his earthly existence, reaped dividends after death as He inherited a portion of Heaven, the very Kingdom of God that was promised to Him (Romans 8:17-21).

Friends, our true worth in life can’t be measured by anything material. This is why Jesus tells us to not store up treasures on earth but rather work to accumulate riches in Heaven. Whether rich or poor, the only way we will find glory after death is to humble ourselves and submit fully to the leading of the Holy Spirit, aspiring to live as Jesus did every step of the way. Otherwise, we risk joining the rich man in eternal torment where he still abides today, ever regretting the poor choice to place his hope in material riches during his earthly life.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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