Do you treat the blue bird better than the crow just based on outer appearances? James, Jesus brother, asked me today. Do you shoo off the grackle while welcoming the blue bird, just based on outer beauty? Do you do the same with those who look rich versus those who look poor? Both rich and poor are to be judged by the heart.

Jesus picked unimpressive workers for the most part, and He himself did not look impressive (aside from on the mount of transfiguration when they could see His fuller identity!). So we still tend to judge by outer appearances in order to love? St James the younger brother of Jesus, warns us against this repeatedly. I like talking with the writers, getting a hold of their personal spiritualities, and what God had shown them, thus far.

I love how James is almost like wisdom literature in the OT, have you considered where wisdom dwells, how the animals reflect it; it’s a bit courtly this letter. The Greek is refined. And, he knew animals and animal training well. Often using them as an analogy for spiritual growth. Nice little letter from the brother of Jesus, I’m reading today. People usually just focus on faith plus works, or faith into action, which is a theme, but lots of other gems inside this letter as well. Like how to not judge by externals.

James really does get how animal training is like spiritual growth. So far, James is the only writer in the NT who references animal training as an participatory analogy for spiritual growth. Nice.

He also keeps referencing the sermon on the mount, as if that sermon went deeply in him. Keeps telling us that those who look poor with earthly eyes, are rich in the spirit and will inherit the kingdom etc. Very Jewish letter this one, and very practical help.

Faith leads to action in line with faith is his main thrust, that we should incarnate our faith in actions like how we treat others, in following the “royal law” as he calls it.
Also talks lots about prayer as a way! How to really pray, and know like Elijah. To pray with the right motives.

Reading James and thinking of the rich and poor…with James, Jesus’ younger brother we are talking about those who appear rich and poor from earth’s eyes rather than heavens.
Just as I was finishing reading the book of James today, several birds landed on our porch trying to get some cat food we had out. I shewed off the grackles but let the bluebird remain. Why did you do that? I heard James say? I had to be honest, the blue bird was simply more beautiful. So you judged the birds from outer appearance. This is what i was talking about when speaking of how we treat the rich and poor. How often we treat things and people by outer appearances, rather than judging by the heart. And living by what James called “the royal law”!
Once again the way of Jesus is an inversion—the unimpressive are the impressive; the poor are the rich. Isn’t our true spirituality worked out in these daily actions of which birds we shun and why? Glad to be convicted today, that I was giving preference for the wrong reasons. In the end, i waved them all away, so my cats could eat. But it’s the little lessons in life, which incarnate our faith.
How often do i shun the crow but welcome the beautiful blue bird for her beauty alone? How often do i judge others before seeing into their hearts!

In life, i tend to lean towards the homeless or overtly poor people, but I’ve learned some are poor and others are like the rich in James’ theology. So we still must discern by the heart regardless of finances, and outer appearances. Where is a person’s treasure? There’s where their heart will be. What do you treasure most in life? That will always reveal your heart regardless of externals. What we treasure reveals our real questions!