Daily Worship

Gold rings and dirty clothes

Ken MacKenzie September 09, 2021 0 2
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James 2: 1-7 (NIVUK)

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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 dishonored 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 blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

Growing up in what was a tight knit but hospitable rural community, I was blessed, more than I knew, by those around me.

From the hill above our house, on a clear night, one could pick out an unbroken line, some five miles long, of scattered farmhouses and bothies, each of which kept a light on late, and at which any person dropping by might well be asked to share in family worship. Back then we knew that any one of us, regardless of age or status, could go to any door and find a warm welcome — and from time to un-timely time I did.

I remember clearly the day on which one of the Bothy boys got out of jail.

He could only make one call, and strangely that latter-day Robin Hood chose to call a land-owner — one who happened to be a Justice-of-the-Peace. Dutifully and tearfully that honourable man drove to the jail and took him home. As I recall, the Bothy boy stayed for tea, and knelt in prayer.

There was sometimes due deference paid.

The man living at the end of the line was a lay preacher, and I remember him telling us how, as a young lad, he was elevated to the role of part-time pony boy on the nearby shooting estate. One wet day, as Willie went down the mountain track, he saw a man coming towards him, all wrapped up and shoulder to the wind.

Normal etiquette requires giving way to the person heading up-hill, but the newly promoted Willie was leading a slightly unruly pony, so he let the stranger scramble up onto the rocky bank. It was only when the stranger doffed his cap that Willie realised that the gentleman in question was King George V, who, to his great credit remained altogether gracious and understanding throughout.

 

PRAYER:

 

Lord God, we give thanks that you do not show any favouritism – if you did, who of us could stand?
Instead you place yourself amongst the poorest and the least.
Help us to do the same — making way for those who are heirs to the Kingdom

Amen