James and Playing Favorites
Believers in Christ must not show favoritism
James 2:1-4
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 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. 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,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Favoritism or Partiality here literally means to judge by outward appearance or to treat someone favorably because of appearance.
All are equal in God’s eyes so they should be in yours.
Romans 2:11 “God does not show favoritism”
“Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
James says that when we play favorites based off outward appearances, we have made a moral mistake.
James’ point then is that when we show favoritism, we are exhibiting a wavering heart. we have a wavering within our hearts between what we can get from someone or how they can benefit us, and what God sees in them.
It’s very easy to miss the subtle ways we might be doing this in our every day lives.
– How about at the grocery store when you are looking for a check outline? We look at the cashiers appearance to determine who we think might be the fastest.
– What about picking out a seat at the lunch table? Will we go sit with the new kid, or will we seek out the more popular table to try and edge in there?
James suggests in those every day small ways of showing partiality, we are in danger of actually becoming judges with evil intentions.
We are in danger of trading God’s value of that person, for what they mean to us or what they can do for us.
James 2:5-7
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? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
– James suggests Christians are not to despise the poor or the oppressed, because that is contrary to the very nature of God himself.
– He reminds us that those who are in Christ, no matter how poor in material possessions, now have the richness of the kingdom of God now, and the promise of a glorious future with God in Heaven.
James 2:8-11
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
James so far has shown us that favoritism is wrong because it is opposed to God’s character and to his actions within the world. In these verses, we see that favoritism violates the Law of Love.
James 2:12-13
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James begins verse 12 with a double imperative that we should live a certain way in response to our relationship with Christ. This brings us back to the key theme of verse 22, that we are to be doers of the word.
As we have so lavishly received Mercy, we are to live extending that mercy to others.
Mercy triumphs over Judgement.
James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY