God opposes the proud but gives to the humble.

Conflicts of Rich and Poor

A different kind of class struggle

God opposes the proud but gives to the humble. James 4;6

Our society tends to divide the rich and the poor. The tow group have little daily contact, and you would have a very hard time communicating a single message to both the very rich and the very poor.

James 5:1,7 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

The two groups had different problems. The wealthy were selfish. They showed insensitivity and snobbishness to the poor.

For their part, the poor responded with envy and grumbling.

They blamed God for their poverty.

At one end of the spectrum is a view which casts wealth and materialism as an evil to be avoided and even combatted. At the other end is a view which casts prosperity and well-being as a blessing from God. Some Christians argue that a proper understanding of Christian teachings on wealth and poverty needs to take a larger view where the accumulation of wealth is not the central focus of one's life but rather a resource to foster the "good life".