Have you ever been made to feel like you didn’t measure up? A lot of cowboys have been through this, especially from the rodeo side of the industry. To reach their goals, many jump from job to job and paycheck to paycheck to be able to stay on the road. They drive older, unreliable vehicles and ask to help tear down after the rodeo in exchange for the producer paying their fees.
Most within the industry gets it and will do what they can to help someone else that’s struggling. But back at our jobs or at school or among our extended families, we hear the “loser” comments behind our backs. Worse, we get hit with them spoken right to us.
And while I would like to think this doesn’t happen, there’s a reason many churches have notices on their websites about “coming as your are” or “dressed as your are.” I know a cowboy who quit going to church because to him, coming in starched jeans, cleaned up boots and a button-down shirt was coming dressed in his best, but he was actually told by a deacon in a suit to dress better for service. Be assured, this is rare and most churches are welcoming.
James 2: 1-11 (1 to 5 shown) 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?
Our society still does this today. Maybe it’s because we think they can do something for us that a poor person can’t, but we’re drawn to the people who have more and the wealthy seem to get warmer welcomes in a crowd. While many are generous with their wealth, many also use their wealth and other rich connections to get further ahead.
For Christians, James is being straightforward in telling us not to show favoritism. And worse, he tells us when we separate out someone because they have less than us, we’re guilty of evil thoughts for judging them as lesser people. He later tells us it’s a sin to show favoritism.
Our real wealth comes in our faith and in those terms, we can all have equal chances at being rich in faith. The person with the new barn and growing cattle herd has just as much to gain in Heaven as the cowboy living out of his car, eating a gas station hot dog.
Cowboys of the Cross is a rodeo/ bull riding ministry that leads cowboy church services at events and maintains an online presence to share the gospel and make disciples among the ranch and rodeo community. They can be found at CowboysOfTheCross.com
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