“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?” – James 2:5 (NIV)
We live in a world that applauds the wealthy, promotes the powerful, and celebrates the popular. But God doesn’t operate by those rules. James reminds us that God has chosen the poor in the eyes of the world-those overlooked and underestimated-to be rich in faith. In God’s kingdom, spiritual wealth matters more than material possessions.
This isn’t to say that being poor automatically makes someone holy or that the rich are excluded. Rather, James is highlighting a divine pattern: God often works through those the world sees as weak or unimportant. Why? Because they are usually more aware of their need, more dependent on God, and more ready to trust Him fully. Earthly poverty often makes room for heavenly riches.
Think about the people Jesus praised during His ministry-the widow who gave her last coin, the tax collector who beat his chest in repentance, the leper who returned to give thanks. None of them were impressive by worldly standards, but they were rich where it counted: in faith. God sees past our resumes and bank accounts. He looks for hearts that love and trust Him.
So today, if you feel small, unseen, or like you don’t have much to offer-take heart. You are exactly the kind of person God delights to use. And if you’ve been blessed with much, ask God to help you stay humble and rich in faith. Because in the end, it’s not about what you have, but who has your heart.
Prayer:
Father, thank you that you don’t judge by outward appearances but by the heart. Help me not to measure worth the way the world does. Grow my faith, deepen my love for you, and make me rich in the things that matter most. Amen.
