Words of Grace – Jan. 29, 2015

“Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world” (Psalm 49:1).

The message of God in the Bible is sent to all the inhabitants of world: “Both low and high, rich and poor together” (v. 2).

“God is no respecter of persons,” as Peter stated in Acts 10:34. “The rich and poor meet together: (Proverbs 22:2). In spite of “the rich ruling over the poor” (v.7) God sees them all alike.

The Bible tells us that “it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). “Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

All, both the rich and the poor, have sinned. Therefore all, both the rich and the poor, die. Someone once wrote: “This world is a city with many a crowded street. Death is the market place where all men meet. If life were merchandise that money could buy, the rich would live and only the poor would die.”

The way of the Lord, according to Luke 1:52, 53, is to put down the mighty from their seats, and to exalt those of low degree. His way is to fill the poor with good things, and send the rich away empty.

“Blessed be ye poor,” Jesus said in Luke 6:20, “for yours is the Kingdom of God.” Then the Lord said, “But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation” (v. 24).

James 2:5 says that God has “chosen the poor of this world” who are “rich in faith” to be the “heirs of the kingdom.”