Hebrews 13; James 1&2. Humility and honor, doing good to all without bias:
What is the humble circumstance for the rich? Could it be that they are not treated in a manner they anticipated or accustomed to? That they are not seen for their status and position?
What is this way of honor that the poor are treated? Could it be that we just treat them as equals? That we don’t treat them as they might expect or are accustomed to - that we don’t treat them as others might treat them?
The fact is, we honor one and humble the other by the equal treatment of them - each and both. That we treat them both with grace and mercy, dignity and respect, based on their person not on their social status, their economic status, or their perceived position in the community.
Is this not how Jesus treats us? Does He not know how to approach each one of us according to who we are and our station of life to both humble and honor? Not as our outward appearance might suggest, but the true condition of our heart, our greatest inward need and heart’s desire?
Did God not do this from the beginning? In the making of man and woman equal and opposite, beautifully mutual and complementary (Gen 1:26-28; 2:7,15,20-25; Matt 19:4-6), to be and to live just like He is in His divine community – that the Father is equal to the Son, and the Son is equal to the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit being equal to the Father - and all of this in this beautiful expression of mutuality?
And that is how we are to be, as we have been made from the beginning, and now being created in Christ. That we would treat each other in the same manner…
As Jesus came here we are being created for the same purpose…
Hebrews 2:14-18 “14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
...we are being created for the same purpose…
1Cor 9:19-23 “19Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
Oh, to be like Jesus…
So, these two writings, Hebrews and James, written to the Jewish believers, to the formerly religious, to those who struggled with grace, and might still try to find their “righteousness” in what they know and the religious practices and activities – having grown up believing that their earthly lot is an expression of God’s divine favor, or not, still might be tempted to judge self and others and God’s love and blessings the same way.
Each writer, once having established that our relationship with God in Christ by grace and that our faith in Jesus is what consummated our relationship with God in Christ and saved us, it is only then that they call us to be sure that there faith expresses itself in good works and deeds of humble service, doing the good works we have been created in Christ Jesus to do (Eph 2:8-10), chosen, saved and sanctified for obedience to Jesus (1Pet 1:2) - that our works do not save us, but that our works are an expression, an outgrowth, fruit of our faith, so that our life of faith and goodness (our righteousness - 2Cor 5:21) is shown by our good works, as an expression of our faith (Ja 2) to the glory of our Father (Matt 5:16).
We see that our religion is useless without faithful obedience as our faith is expressed in good works
1Corinthians 7:19 “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.”
Galatians 5:6; 6:15-16 “...in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love...., 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule....”
Hebrews and James…
