Poverty Gives Opportunity for Manifold Virtues
James 2:1-7
My brothers, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.…


A wise man is placed in the variety of chances, like the nave or centre of a wheel in the midst of all the circumvolutions and changes of posture, without violence or change, save that it turns gently in compliance with its changed parts, and is indifferent which part is up, and which is down; for there is some virtue or other to be exercised whatever happens, either patience or thanksgiving, love or fear, moderation or humility, charity or contentedness, and they are every one of them equally in order to his great end and immortal felicity; and beauty is not made by white or red, by black eyes, and a round face, by a straight body and a smooth skin; but by a proportion to the fancy. No rules can make amiability, our minds and apprehensions make that; and so is our felicity: and we may be reconciled to poverty and a low fortune, if we suffer contentedness and the grace of God to make the proportion. For no man is poor that doth not think himself so. But if in a full fortune with impatience he desires more, he proclaims his wants and his beggarly condition.

(Jeremy Taylor, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

WEB: My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.




Poor Yet Good
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