James 2:5-7 “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 to those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you … dragging you into court … slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?”
Certain people are tempted to follow and honor those most destructive to them. Rich Man’s Syndrome – automatically attributing great wisdom to anyone with great wealth, or mistaking wealth for wisdom – is not just a conceit of the rich, but also of many who work for or desire to be among the rich. This condition persists even when the person in power exploits and abuses his power. I have seen this repeatedly in large corporations where underlings ascribe superior intelligence to someone only because he is an executive. At its worst, this attitude has allowed dictators like Stalin, Mao, and Castro to thrive despite impoverishing, starving, and murdering their own citizens.
Father, please keep me from conflating wisdom with wealth or power. Please give me compassion for the poor. And please break through the culture of chronic poverty, sin, addiction, and despair that enslaves the occupants of ghettos and hollows in America and elsewhere. May the poor truly learn to be rich in faith, seeking you, and obeying your Word.