It’s easy to think of God’s message as being only for the “poor” – whatever you interpret that to mean – economically, culturally, socially… Kind of like thinking God calls to Himself people who have a hard life so they can have a better existence in Heaven…so they’ll really appreciate eternity…or something like that.
But did you know there’s such a thing as reverse discrimination? We can judge others on what they have, just as easily as we can judge based on the have-nots. But assessing someone’s heart based on their abundance in this life is no better than forming an opinion of them based on their lack of abundance.
Why should we believe the “rich” are any less deserving of God’s salvation? Who are we to judge whom God should love and offer eternal life?
The story of Lydia in Acts 16 gives us an example of God’s favor shining on a woman who was apparently a well-to-do businesswoman. Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth, which was a fine garment in those days. She also owned a home and had a social status uncommon to women of her time period.
Lydia did not yet know Jesus Christ as the key to her salvation, but God knew her heart when he sent Paul, Silas, and Timothy to her in Philippi. She was open to the message the men shared with her, accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and became the first converted Christian in Europe. She then offered hospitality to the men and a place for them to stay.
One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.Acts 16:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
Lydia was not “poor” financially or socially. She appears to have had a rather comfortable life. Yet, God met her where she was and called Him to Himself – not because of whom she was or what she had, but because of who He is. He then used her to further His kingdom by supporting Paul and the others in their ministry.
God created the earth and everything in it. God tells the day and night where to begin and end. God designed each and every human being uniquely different from the rest. God sent His only Son to earth to suffer and die so He could raise Him from the dead as a substitute for our sins, so that we could have eternal life with Him.
Therefore, who are we to question whom God should love or love more? After all, it’s not about us being good enough to earn His salvation. His gift of salvation has nothing to do with us earning it by having (or not having) a certain social, cultural, or economic status.
God’s gift of salvation has everything to do with the fact that He could control our every move if He wanted, but instead He gives us the freedom to choose to walk in relationship with Him. Praise God He knows our hearts and wants us to come to Him on our own free will, regardless of our status in others’ eyes. He loves us all, whether we’re in the haves or the have-nots. Praise God!
