Are you riding shot gun (first class) or the back seat (coach)? One thing I learned a long time ago is not to forget the little people, and don’t step on the little people to get to the top. The Bible says if you exalt yourself you will be humbled, and if you humble yourself you will be exalted (1 Peter 5:6, Matthew 23:12, James 4:10).
Those who are first will be as the last. Those who are last will be as the first. Matthew 20:16
Jesus warned not to be like the Gentiles that lord it over each other. It was when the sibling brothers were arguing who was going to sit on the left hand or right hand of Jesus in glory. Reminds me of kids who want to ride shotgun, not in the back seat.
What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Matthew 20:20-25
The comment by Jesus seems contradictory, because at that time anyone outside of being a descendant of Issac/Abraham was considered a Gentile and sometimes referred to as dogs until Jesus died on the cross and broke down the wall of separation. Then the blessing of Abraham came on the Gentiles (everyone). Women were treated more like property (slaves) or cattle back at that time. We see in our society there are still some segregation issues.
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Galatians 3:14
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
God is not a respecter of persons (Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (partiality). Acts 10:34.
God is a respecter of faith. He honors faith. God blessed Abraham because of faith.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. James 2:23, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." Hebrews 10:38
Many years in service roles at work I got free lunch from pharmaticeutial reps for the physicians that I could give away to the maintenance men and housekeeping when I worked at Methodist Hospital and Ivy Tech State College. I like to give away free stuff. The Bible says “freely you have received freely give.”
There have been many of these pyramid get rich quick schemes, or kingdom seekers that you “draw” people and riches to yourself. I don’t see that in the Bible we are not to “draw” people to ourselves or riches to ourselves. It says that “If I be lifted up I will draw all men to me” (to Jesus). We are to make disciples after Christ.
The Bible warns about the desire to get rich, people have wandered from the faith and have many griefs.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10
That is why I like the scripture where it says the “blessing of the Lord makes rich and add no sorrow with it." The rich man went away from Jesus sorrowful because he wanted to “hold on to his riches.” He said that he followed all the commandments from his youth up. That is because the rich man did not truly seek God with all his heart first place. (Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22)
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble (grief) to it. Proverbs 10:22
Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. Genesis 26:12
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Duet 8:18
The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity--in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground--in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. Duet 28:11
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. Proverbs 8:21
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
I like that scripture. “Bless the Lord, Oh my soul and “all” that is within me bless his holy name. Psalm 103:1
One of the things I am very conscious of with single groups is favoritism. There can be social clicks or groups that form with married couples too. It’s being aware not to fall into the trap of favoritism. It’s people that will exclude you from groups, because they don’t deem that you are cool. Christianity can become like an exclusive golf club rather than loving one another and supporting one another like the Bible talks about and the Bible says that is sin. James warns about favoritism in the Bible:
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. James 2:9
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you [from us], so that you may be zealous for them. Galatians 4:17
I try not to exclude anyone from coming to my parties, based on that they are emotionally, physically, or mentally handicapped. If there is a problem with transporation for some and handicap access at my house, but people have managed to come to my socials in a wheelchair. I keep an “open invitation” regardless of their situation in life.
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby 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," 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," James 2:1-4
I’ve noticed that people tend to go in their circle of friends which some determine it can only be their church. We are all part of the body of Christ. We are in individual branches of the Body (arms, legs, feet, etc.) but we are all one in Christ. Many people don’t want to get out of their comfort zone, but they prefer to stay in a box with a title in their church and not be a part of the whole stream. I like the church name “creek” because that represents it is a creek or stream apart of many creeks or streams in the whole Body of Christ!
For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 1 Cor. 3:4-5
A good example of this favoritism is the movie “Pride and Prejudice” where the minister shows special attention and favor to the Lady Catherine de Bourgh, because she was well off financially. I am sure that “preferential treatment” still happens in the Body of Christ, and we are to show honor where honor is due. It can be an attitude of the heart when it comes to the poor, less fortunate or those with less Kosher. There can be walls of division that we set up that we are better than other people, but there are also walls of division that we set up within our own minds.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:17-18
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philip 2:3
I was never born to privilege as far as my father worked himself up from a machine operator to a foreman at Allison’s and my mother was a full time housewife. My parents lived within their means/a budget.
Compared to third world countries, we should consider that we are all born to privilege in America!
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Galatians 2:10
After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. Acts 24:17
He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17
All of us get “skeptical” of people begging on the street. I just pray and if I have a “witness” to give than I give to a person. Gift cards for food places is one alternative than money. I’ve heard countless testimonies of people employing homeless people and I do like the movie, “The Blind Side” where she took a less privilege boy into her home and raised him. I’ve gone through some of the same things when I have had homeless people stay with me in the past where you wake up, and wonder what is stolen next out of my house. I know that people don’t “personally” rip me off, because I am doing it as unto the Lord, so I keep a ministry as unto Jesus. I definitely would not be doing some of the things I am doing if it was not for the Lord touching my heart.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, Colossian 3:23
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, Ephesians 6:7
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