Jacob 2:16 - 2:20

Jacob 2:16 O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!

Jacob wants so much that the people would shape up their spirits by repenting and conforming to the gospel principles. He knows that they are in the grips of personal pride. He knows that this attitude of personal pride will bring them down to the point of being unable to repent in time and they will destroy themselves.

Jacob 2:17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

Jacob knows that we all need to think of ourselves as being no better than their fellow beings. That we need to impart of that which is beyond what we need to those who don’t have what they need. By doing so we all achieve equality which means we are all rich together. There will be no one who has the temptation to think he is better than his fellow because he has more stuff than the rest of us.

Jacob 2:18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

To qualify for riches, one must be spiritually prepared to have them. Worldly inspiration will not teach you how to use them for the benefit of men. Riches require inspiration from the Lord so as to know how to distribute them to achieve the equality the Lord is trying to achieve among us all.

Jacob 2:19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

After one has gained the inspiration to know how to use riches to benefit of all and you still seek them for the benefit of all, you shall have them. You must be trying to alleviate conditions like hunger, lack of warm clothing, no shelter, caring for the sick, help those in debt and other various maladies that man can fall subject to whether by his fault or from others.

Jacob 2:20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it?

Jacob has spoken of pride and wants his listeners to asked themselves if they are affected with this malady? He is asking that they honestly look at their behavior in this regard. How have you treated your neighbor either by direct action or in your hearts. Have you look upon your neighbor as an equal or have you look down upon him as inferior because you have more stuff than he does? Jacob reminds them that what they have has come from the Lord. He placed it here in this land for their benefit but they can acquire it for the wrong reason and feel they are deserve it because of their talents than another who may not be able to acquire it as easily.