John Calvin Commentary James 2:5

"Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?" — James 2:5 (ASV)

Listen, my beloved brothers. He now proves by a twofold argument that they acted absurdly when they despised the poor for the sake of the rich.

The first argument is that it is unfitting and shameful to put down those whom God lifts up, and to treat with contempt those whom He honors. Since God honors the poor, everyone who rejects them reverses God's order.

The other argument is taken from common experience. Since the rich are usually troublesome to the good and innocent, it is very unreasonable to give them such a reward for the wrongs they commit, causing them to be more highly regarded by us than the poor, who help us more than they harm us.

We will now see how he proceeds with these two points.

Has not God chosen the poor of this world? Not them alone, indeed, but He wished to begin with them, so that He might humble the pride of the rich.

This is also what Paul says: that God has chosen not many noble, not many mighty in the world, but those who are weak, that He might make ashamed those who are strong (1 Corinthians 1:25).

In short, although God pours out His grace on the rich as well as the poor, His will is to prefer the poor to the rich. This is so that the mighty might learn not to flatter themselves, and that the ignoble and obscure might ascribe what they are to the mercy of God, and that both might be trained in meekness and humility.

Those who are rich in faith are not those who abound in great faith, but those whom God has enriched with the various gifts of His Spirit, which we receive by faith. For, undoubtedly, since the Lord deals generously with all, everyone partakes of His gifts according to the measure of his own faith. If, then, we are empty or needy, that proves our faith is lacking; for if we only expand the capacity of our faith, God is always ready to fill it.

He says that a kingdom is promised to those who love God. This is not because the promise depends on love; rather, he reminds us that we are called by God to the hope of eternal life on this condition and for this purpose: that we may love Him. Therefore, the goal, and not the basis for the promise, is what is indicated here.