James 2:5-7

Scripture: James 2:5-7
5 Listen, my dear brothers: 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?
6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

Observations:
Good point!!! Why are we so against the poor when the rich are the ones who are truly exploiting? I love the phrase “those who are poor in the eyes of the world” because I can only imagine how God sees them. I can only imagine how He envisions them with their reward in mind and the glory to come.

Application:
Why is it so easy to target the poor and lose compassion? I think the media focuses in on the crimes of the poor, the violence and the addictions and the people going to jail. We begin to feel unsafe when people are poor because we assume they will display criminal behavior.  The media turns our eyes away from the evils of the rich, but let’s not forget the way God views the situation.

Prayer:
Father open our eyes. Give us a glimpse of how You see the world. Help us to be humble and rich in faith. Break hearts to share and give. Let it be on earth as it is in heaven. We love You not just in words, but in action. In Christ’s name, amen.

Ephesians 6:5-9

Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
 
Observations:
I love this passage so much. Work consumes so much of my time and effort, and it's so easy to develop a negative, lazy attitude about it! How exciting that there's more to it than a paycheck!!!! GOD in heaven is watching me and He takes note of my work ethic. That makes me that much more motivated to be a light in my workplace, and strive to be a great employee :)
  
Application:
God calls us to be honest, hard-working people! He demands us to be fair. Whether we have a boss or we are the boss, we are supposed to treat people with respect and sincerity. We should be known for how hard we work! And we should take joy in our labor because we're being rewarded so far beyond what this world can offer!!
  
Prayer:
God, let everything we do be for Your glory! Let us have a boost of confidence and energy today as we strive to represent You well! Help us to serve wholeheartedly at whatever tasks we do today! Thank You for your constant presence. We long to do Your will from our hearts, so we ask You to provide the means. In Christ's name I pray, amen!