This world is characterized by a distinction between those deemed great and those considered insignificant. Accumulating wealth is often viewed as a path towards greatness, even though such wealth can be acquired through corruption. The wealthiest individuals gain respect worldwide, mainly because of the potential benefits from them, excluding their virtues. As a result, the concept of greatness has become diluted, much like the term “love,” which is often misused and leads to more suffering than happiness. James lamented the tendency to honour those who appear affluent rather than those considered below average. James was discussing a type of protocol that has been established since ancient times.
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:1-9 NKJV).
By seriously adopting the contents of the above Scripture, we can restore righteousness, both within church assemblies and in the wider world. To clarify the concept of greatness helps to align our understanding of righteousness. Traditionally, a person’s greatness is often measured by their material possessions, such as driving an expensive vehicle, which signals affluence. However, this perspective is completely contrary to the divine viewpoint presented in the book of James. So, how can we restore order without addressing the underlying traditions, the violation of which, diminishes the worth of those propagating for change?
This topic undoubtedly addresses a core source of confusion in human societies. One reason Christianity is unpopular with many people is its inconsistency regarding the concept of greatness. Preachers often express this idea, as mentioned in the book of James, but they struggle to put it into practice. The primary reason for this hesitance is the potential negative impact on the financial stability of their churches. Any congregation that openly embraces the teachings of James may find funding for their considered worthwhile projects reduced.
From this perspective, we can highlight the source of confusion that plagues Christian Churches. How should one handle a rogue individual who happens to fund Christian projects? This person could be a rapist, yet remain untouchable due to their financial contributions to the Church. Common sense might suggest ignoring James’ admonition as a strategy to maintain funding. However, this approach raises important questions about the integrity of the Church. While the Church may be well-funded to satisfy the congregation, it could be misaligned with God’s intentions. Jesus warned that one cannot simultaneously serve both God and money. This is because the two are fundamentally incompatible.
From this perspective, one can see the challenge, complicating the addressing of fundamental doctrines within churches. This exposes the root cause of corruption in God’s Church, which is meant to guide humanity toward honesty and integrity. Each denomination takes pride in viewing itself as superior to others, based on whatever interpretations of Christian doctrines. However, it is rare to find any of those divergent denominations fully adhering to the standards outlined in James’ admonition. Many consider James’ words to be outdated and inapplicable to modern times. As a result, the assault against Jesus’ mission is perpetuated by Churches.
Greatness is often measured in financial terms. A person is considered great as long as buying admiration of influential figures, such as a bishop or any designated church leader. Ignoring a wealthy person can be considered unwise. James was fixated on opposing the idea that a man wearing expensive clothing held a certain kind of greatness. This person was viewed as potentially contributing significantly to the church’s finances. In contrast, someone in tattered clothes was viewed as potentially more of a liability than an asset. James was troubled by this misplaced behaviour, as he believed it went against God’s intentions.
“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:1-9 NKJV).
Why did God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the Kingdom, as promised to those who love Him? Should we regard those who finance significant projects aimed at enhancing the Church’s activities as ignoble? Could this be why some preachers are granted the heretical status? Imagine a preacher standing in the pulpit, condemning potential financiers, while the Bishop eagerly anticipates a substantial contribution from a wealthy donor. Let God be the one to provide answers, through the teachings of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV).
The text does not require any theological explanation; it is simply illustrative of Christian principles. God does not need anyone to take credit for financing His work. Those who come to Him are individuals who have surrendered everything to follow Him. To these people, He assures that there is a God who is aware of their financial needs. He promises to care for them, providing food and clothing just as He does for the birds of the air and the Earth itself, which is clothed majestically. However, this does not imply that those who choose to follow Jesus will not face difficulties along the way.
The advice to seek first the Kingdom of God is based on the understanding that God’s Kingdom is spiritual and everlasting. Those who are advised to seek this Kingdom may face hardships, such as being killed or imprisoned, rather than receiving financial rewards. However, by prioritizing the Kingdom of God, they can secure a spiritual reward that cannot be destroyed. Christianity emphasizes spiritual blessings over physical ones, which can sometimes become an obstacle for those focused on pleasing God.
The more one focuses on reducing their attachment to physical blessings, the closer one becomes to God’s Kingdom. Conversely, the more a person fixates on material possessions, the farther they drift from God’s Kingdom. This may seem unbelievable to many, but it is an undeniable principle. For instance, someone may appear dishevelled and wearing untidy clothing, resembling a beggar rather than someone who contributes to the growth of the Church. How can that individual be considered a blessing?
It seems those who are not preoccupied with tomorrow are closer to God’s Kingdom. While society may consider those who prepare for the future as wiser and greater, Jesus’ teachings indicate that wisdom lies in not being concerned with tomorrow. Jesus even conveyed this concept through a parable, providing direction to those who see Him as the supreme authority. In this context, the unconcerned person is deemed wiser than the one prudently storing for future provisions.
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do since I have no room to store my crop?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21 NKJV).
Understanding that a person dedicated to the Kingdom of God should not be deemed lazy or idle is vital. Such an individual yearns to further God’s Kingdom, unlike the one consumed with his future provisions. According to worldly measures, the one unconcerned with the future may appear unwise. For example, using those standards, although Abel’s offering was superior to his brother Cain’s, he was considered unsuccessful. Cain survived after murdering his brother and would, therefore, be considered to have been successful. The key insight is that what benefits the physical realm may be detrimental to the spiritual, and vice versa.
From this analysis, we can conclude that the path to God’s Kingdom involves principles that contrast sharply with prevailing societal standards. To achieve salvation, one must strive for humility and a spirit of poverty, rather than focusing solely on financial stability. This suggests that Christianity calls for a radical approach to life, so Jesus advised his followers to “count the cost” before committing (Luke 14:28-34). According to the Biblical perspective, greatness is defined in ways that diverge from commonly accepted ideals.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” (Philippians 2:5-10 NKJV).
Greatness can be defined as serving in a manner that aligns with the teachings of Christianity’s founder. Jesus is often deemed great, particularly by those who claim to follow Him. Yet, it is rare to find individuals truly willing to embrace Jesus’ mindset as recommended. In His pursuit of greatness, Jesus relinquished aspects of His humanity, leading a life not in search of heroic accolades. Being human involves recognizing it as the lowest state ever known to the world. Thus, to achieve greatness, one must be prepared to humble oneself, even to the point of death.
The true measure of greatness lies in a person’s willingness to endure significant loss for the benefit of their adversaries. This contrasts with the idea that greatness comes from inflicting a substantial loss on one’s foes. In essence, greatness is the ability to love, even when there are justifiable reasons to feel hatred. Jesus specifically taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Contrary to the world’s call for retribution, if greatness requires moving away from secular perspectives, then Christianity offers a clear path for those sincerely seeking it. In this context, there is no greater calling than that of a Christian.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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