**The Story of the Rich and the Poor in the Assembly**
In the bustling city of Jerusalem, where the streets were filled with merchants, beggars, and travelers, there was a small but growing community of believers who gathered regularly to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. They met in a modest home, its walls adorned with simple tapestries and its floors covered with woven mats. The air was thick with the scent of burning oil lamps and the sound of prayers lifted in unison. Among them were both the wealthy and the poor, the influential and the forgotten. Yet, as the days passed, a troubling division began to emerge.
One Sabbath morning, as the sun cast its golden rays over the city, the believers gathered once more. Among them was a man named Eliab, a wealthy merchant known for his fine robes and gold rings. His presence commanded attention, and when he entered the assembly, the room seemed to shift. The ushers hurried to escort him to the best seat, a cushioned chair near the front, where he could be seen and honored by all. Eliab smiled graciously, his demeanor exuding confidence and privilege.
Moments later, another man arrived. His name was Amos, a poor laborer whose clothes were patched and frayed. His hands were calloused from years of hard work, and his face bore the marks of hardship. When Amos entered, the ushers hesitated. They glanced at one another, unsure of what to do. Finally, one of them gestured toward a spot on the floor near the doorway. “You can sit there,” he said curtly, avoiding Amos’s gaze. Amos nodded humbly and took his place, his head bowed in quiet prayer.
James, the brother of the Lord and a leader among the believers, observed this scene with a heavy heart. He had heard whispers of favoritism within the assembly, but now he saw it with his own eyes. The contrast between the treatment of Eliab and Amos was stark, and it grieved him deeply. When the time came for teaching, James stood before the congregation, his voice steady but filled with conviction.
“My dear brothers and sisters,” he began, “listen carefully. As believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, we must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the one 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,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
The room fell silent. James’s words cut through the air like a sharp blade, exposing the hidden sin in their hearts. He continued, “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 paused, allowing his words to sink in. He could see the conviction on some faces, while others shifted uncomfortably in their seats. “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
He then reminded them of the mercy they had received through Christ. “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
As James concluded his teaching, the assembly was left in deep reflection. Eliab, the wealthy merchant, felt a pang of guilt. He realized that his wealth had become a stumbling block, not only for himself but for others. Amos, the poor laborer, felt a sense of dignity restored, knowing that in God’s eyes, he was just as valued as any rich man.
In the days that followed, the community began to change. They no longer judged by outward appearances but sought to love one another as Christ had loved them. The rich shared their resources with the poor, and the poor offered their faith and prayers in return. Together, they became a living testimony of God’s grace, a community where mercy triumphed over judgment and love overcame division.
And so, the words of James echoed through their lives: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Their faith came alive as they lived out the royal law of love, proving that true faith in Christ transforms not only the heart but also the way we treat one another.
