Let’s be fair about it! - James 2:1-13
Let’s be fair about it! - James 2:1-13
By Pastor Lee Hemen
October 6, 2013 AM
I’ve noticed that even some four or five-year-olds have low self-esteem. Helping them build a healthy self-image as an important part of a parent’s task. It involves more than handing out stickers; it also involves nurturing them. All children need fair, impartial, and caring treatment to instill the self-confidence they need as they mature. Every child should be treated as a special gift of God.
Although we can treat some people as special, that does not mean we should do so at another’s expense. Favoritism results from using superficial means to evaluate others and making that evaluation the basis for how we treat them. Favoritism is being kind or courteous to some but not to all. It is showing mercy to and forgiving some but being unmerciful and unforgiving to others. Even Christians can fall into the trap of showing partiality in their families, workplaces, and churches. They are drawn to people with whom they identify easily and exclude people who are different or are considered unimportant or unattractive. James teaches us that this is simply evil, let’s discover why…
READ: James 2:1-13
James pulled no punches in emphasizing that partiality is totally unacceptable among believers. In fact, favoritism is a sin that brings judgment. James denounced favoritism in the church; we are to…
I. Ignore the externals! (James 2:1-4)
1. James counseled believers to stop practicing (“habitually exercising”) their faith in their current manner. He writes, “Don’t show favoritism.” The word favoritism expresses the idea of arbitrarily assigning more worth to some people than to others and extending preferential treatment to individuals deemed more worthy. James made it clear that obedience to Christ excludes partiality. “Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.” The phrase your meeting literally is “your synagogue” and indicated believers coming together for worship. As Jewish Christians, these believers would understand the term “synagogue” for their place of worship. James supposed that two visiting men entered this group of gathered Christians. James described their economic status. One man was wearing a gold ring and he was wearing fine clothes. Then a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. This man had only the clothes on his back. He had only one garment that bore the stains of daily use. James set the scene with starkly contrasting descriptions. The gathered believers’ response to these two men was immediately revealing. James asks, “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”? Why are we tempted to show favoritism to certain people? What helps us to refuse to show partiality? James concluded his possible scenario with a rhetorical question to which he expected an answer of yes, “Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” To make such a blatant and shameful distinction based on appearances and economic status demonstrated that believers were practicing discrimination! Showing bias on the basis of outward appearances makes believers judges with evil thoughts. Instead of relating to one another as brothers in Christ, these believers created a division among themselves, believers are to ignore the externals!
EXAMPLE: We should always dress well and put our best foot forward for a job interview, however, believers are not to display discrimination based on eternals. Our culture shows blatant partiality to people who are attractive, talented, wealthy, powerful, successful, or socially prominent. Superstars abound in today’s culture. Great soccer players cause fans to riot in the bleachers. Popular musicians have fans who stand in line for hours for tickets. And Hollywood celebrities hire bodyguards to protect themselves from adoring stalkers. We easily can fall victim to favoring church members, potential church members, or even those who are not likely to be members on the basis of external trappings. We can treat people impartially only when we ignore any external differences between them, others, or ourselves. As Christians, we are to live according to a higher standard. We are to ignore the externals!
James goes on to indicate behavior that dishonors God’s people and that honors people who mistreat believers. He teaches us that we are to…
II. Honor all God’s people! (James 2:5-7)
I. James writes, “Listen,” because he wanted them to give careful attention to what he was about to say. He reminded them of what they already knew from their Jewish background: God champions the poor. While most Christians at this time were poor, God never exhibits favoritism. He responds positively to all people who turn to Him in faith, regardless of their financial status. James asks, “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?” James had in mind those who, while poor, were rightly related to God through Christ. James did not mean God selected the poor above anyone else; it is the idea of God’s initiative in extending grace to the poor as He did to all people. In Luke 4:18, Jesus said God had sent Him “to preach good news to the poor.” They were included in God’s redemptive purpose. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 NIV) James’ reference to Jesus’ beatitude assured the poor they shared in God’s kingdom. Although these believers might have been materially destitute, they were spiritually wealthy. God honors the poor by extending His grace to them and exalting them. Evidently, these believers had dishonored a poor man. James writes, “But you have insulted the poor.” If he was a visitor, they did not know whether he was a Christian or an unbeliever. If He was a Christian, they had denied his equality with them in the faith. If he was an unbeliever, they had failed to exhibit God’s grace and love. James asks three rhetorical questions, “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 slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” They all demanded a “yes” answer. The assumption is that they had forgotten who had been persecuting them. Those they had thought highly of, because of their wealth, had used their wealth for persecution! The implication was clear, the rich were the ones who “slandered” or “spoke evil of” Jesus! These Christians were showing favoritism to people who constantly expressed their contempt for Christ! As believers, we are to honor all God’s people!
EXAMPLE: A Washington Post article reported that studies into the nature of prejudice found that almost everyone harbors biases, and these attitudes affect even those who actively resist them. A University of Kentucky psychologist says that much of our self-esteem comes from feeling better about ourselves than about others because of the group we belong to. Prejudice is not easy to overcome, even within the family of God. Christianity out of all the religions of the world is the great equalizer. No clan, no ethnicity, no social status, or educational background separates us from the love of God. Nor should they separate God's people in loving one another! Because His people are important to Him, we are to honor them, not to ignore them or to give preferential treatment to people who abuse them. In fact, we are to look for ways to serve other believers. Also, we are to counter abuse of all people but especially mistreatment of Christians. We are to honor all of God's people!
James strongly stated believers had only two options for treating others: loving them or sinning against them (vv. 8-13). Christians are to fulfill “the royal law”: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Therefore, we are to…
III. Extend God’s love! (James 2:8-13)
1. James tells them, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.” The phrase the royal law meant the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18 NIV) We are to extend to all the same care and concern we have for ourselves. In contrast, believers who continually show favoritism “sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” They were missing Christ’s mark of God’s grace! We are to love God completely and others as ourselves! When we don't, it convicts us as sinners! Then, James used a common Jewish teaching to demonstrate that disobedience is no light infraction. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” To be law-abiding, a person has to keep all the law; which is impossible. James’s point is that God’s people are to keep all His laws. James quoted the 7th and then the 6th Commandments. By associating partiality with adultery and murder, James stressed the seriousness of exhibiting favoritism. He did not mean the sin of partiality is the same as adultery and murder; however, to reject any of God’s commands is disobedience. James warned against failing to love others as God commanded and as Jesus affirmed. Believers are to “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.” All believers are to live in the understanding that in God’s final judgment, the gospel will be the standard by which we will be measured. We must remember, “Mercy triumphs over judgment!” Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 NIV) James connected mercy with loving others and treating them fairly; he connected lack of mercy with showing favoritism. People who have received God’s mercy through Christ are to extend God's love to others.
EXAMPLE: Charlie Brown, the comic strip character, identified with the underdog, probably because he always felt like one. In one scene he was building a birdhouse when the cynical Lucy came by. “I’m building it for sparrows,” Charlie told her. Lucy said, “For sparrows? Nobody builds birdhouses for sparrows.” “I do,” replied Charlie Brown. “I always stick up for the underbird.” If we do not treat people in ways that express love and mercy, we are committing sin. Believers need to stick up for the "underbird"! We show love and mercy by treating all other people fairly, refusing to show favoritism. We live in the tension of being measured by the gospel, which affirms every person’s worth.
Conclusion:
1. We can treat people impartially only when we ignore any external differences between them and others.
2. Because people who belong to God are important to Him, we are to honor them, not to ignore them or to give preferential treatment to people who abuse them.
3. If we do not treat people in ways that express love and mercy, we are committing sin.
---
This article is the copyrighted property of Lee Hemen and may not be edited or redistributed without his written permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
October 6, 2013 AM
I’ve noticed that even some four or five-year-olds have low self-esteem. Helping them build a healthy self-image as an important part of a parent’s task. It involves more than handing out stickers; it also involves nurturing them. All children need fair, impartial, and caring treatment to instill the self-confidence they need as they mature. Every child should be treated as a special gift of God.
Although we can treat some people as special, that does not mean we should do so at another’s expense. Favoritism results from using superficial means to evaluate others and making that evaluation the basis for how we treat them. Favoritism is being kind or courteous to some but not to all. It is showing mercy to and forgiving some but being unmerciful and unforgiving to others. Even Christians can fall into the trap of showing partiality in their families, workplaces, and churches. They are drawn to people with whom they identify easily and exclude people who are different or are considered unimportant or unattractive. James teaches us that this is simply evil, let’s discover why…
READ: James 2:1-13
James pulled no punches in emphasizing that partiality is totally unacceptable among believers. In fact, favoritism is a sin that brings judgment. James denounced favoritism in the church; we are to…
I. Ignore the externals! (James 2:1-4)
1. James counseled believers to stop practicing (“habitually exercising”) their faith in their current manner. He writes, “Don’t show favoritism.” The word favoritism expresses the idea of arbitrarily assigning more worth to some people than to others and extending preferential treatment to individuals deemed more worthy. James made it clear that obedience to Christ excludes partiality. “Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.” The phrase your meeting literally is “your synagogue” and indicated believers coming together for worship. As Jewish Christians, these believers would understand the term “synagogue” for their place of worship. James supposed that two visiting men entered this group of gathered Christians. James described their economic status. One man was wearing a gold ring and he was wearing fine clothes. Then a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. This man had only the clothes on his back. He had only one garment that bore the stains of daily use. James set the scene with starkly contrasting descriptions. The gathered believers’ response to these two men was immediately revealing. James asks, “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”? Why are we tempted to show favoritism to certain people? What helps us to refuse to show partiality? James concluded his possible scenario with a rhetorical question to which he expected an answer of yes, “Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” To make such a blatant and shameful distinction based on appearances and economic status demonstrated that believers were practicing discrimination! Showing bias on the basis of outward appearances makes believers judges with evil thoughts. Instead of relating to one another as brothers in Christ, these believers created a division among themselves, believers are to ignore the externals!
EXAMPLE: We should always dress well and put our best foot forward for a job interview, however, believers are not to display discrimination based on eternals. Our culture shows blatant partiality to people who are attractive, talented, wealthy, powerful, successful, or socially prominent. Superstars abound in today’s culture. Great soccer players cause fans to riot in the bleachers. Popular musicians have fans who stand in line for hours for tickets. And Hollywood celebrities hire bodyguards to protect themselves from adoring stalkers. We easily can fall victim to favoring church members, potential church members, or even those who are not likely to be members on the basis of external trappings. We can treat people impartially only when we ignore any external differences between them, others, or ourselves. As Christians, we are to live according to a higher standard. We are to ignore the externals!
James goes on to indicate behavior that dishonors God’s people and that honors people who mistreat believers. He teaches us that we are to…
II. Honor all God’s people! (James 2:5-7)
I. James writes, “Listen,” because he wanted them to give careful attention to what he was about to say. He reminded them of what they already knew from their Jewish background: God champions the poor. While most Christians at this time were poor, God never exhibits favoritism. He responds positively to all people who turn to Him in faith, regardless of their financial status. James asks, “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?” James had in mind those who, while poor, were rightly related to God through Christ. James did not mean God selected the poor above anyone else; it is the idea of God’s initiative in extending grace to the poor as He did to all people. In Luke 4:18, Jesus said God had sent Him “to preach good news to the poor.” They were included in God’s redemptive purpose. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 NIV) James’ reference to Jesus’ beatitude assured the poor they shared in God’s kingdom. Although these believers might have been materially destitute, they were spiritually wealthy. God honors the poor by extending His grace to them and exalting them. Evidently, these believers had dishonored a poor man. James writes, “But you have insulted the poor.” If he was a visitor, they did not know whether he was a Christian or an unbeliever. If He was a Christian, they had denied his equality with them in the faith. If he was an unbeliever, they had failed to exhibit God’s grace and love. James asks three rhetorical questions, “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 slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” They all demanded a “yes” answer. The assumption is that they had forgotten who had been persecuting them. Those they had thought highly of, because of their wealth, had used their wealth for persecution! The implication was clear, the rich were the ones who “slandered” or “spoke evil of” Jesus! These Christians were showing favoritism to people who constantly expressed their contempt for Christ! As believers, we are to honor all God’s people!
EXAMPLE: A Washington Post article reported that studies into the nature of prejudice found that almost everyone harbors biases, and these attitudes affect even those who actively resist them. A University of Kentucky psychologist says that much of our self-esteem comes from feeling better about ourselves than about others because of the group we belong to. Prejudice is not easy to overcome, even within the family of God. Christianity out of all the religions of the world is the great equalizer. No clan, no ethnicity, no social status, or educational background separates us from the love of God. Nor should they separate God's people in loving one another! Because His people are important to Him, we are to honor them, not to ignore them or to give preferential treatment to people who abuse them. In fact, we are to look for ways to serve other believers. Also, we are to counter abuse of all people but especially mistreatment of Christians. We are to honor all of God's people!
James strongly stated believers had only two options for treating others: loving them or sinning against them (vv. 8-13). Christians are to fulfill “the royal law”: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Therefore, we are to…
III. Extend God’s love! (James 2:8-13)
1. James tells them, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.” The phrase the royal law meant the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18 NIV) We are to extend to all the same care and concern we have for ourselves. In contrast, believers who continually show favoritism “sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” They were missing Christ’s mark of God’s grace! We are to love God completely and others as ourselves! When we don't, it convicts us as sinners! Then, James used a common Jewish teaching to demonstrate that disobedience is no light infraction. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” To be law-abiding, a person has to keep all the law; which is impossible. James’s point is that God’s people are to keep all His laws. James quoted the 7th and then the 6th Commandments. By associating partiality with adultery and murder, James stressed the seriousness of exhibiting favoritism. He did not mean the sin of partiality is the same as adultery and murder; however, to reject any of God’s commands is disobedience. James warned against failing to love others as God commanded and as Jesus affirmed. Believers are to “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.” All believers are to live in the understanding that in God’s final judgment, the gospel will be the standard by which we will be measured. We must remember, “Mercy triumphs over judgment!” Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 NIV) James connected mercy with loving others and treating them fairly; he connected lack of mercy with showing favoritism. People who have received God’s mercy through Christ are to extend God's love to others.
EXAMPLE: Charlie Brown, the comic strip character, identified with the underdog, probably because he always felt like one. In one scene he was building a birdhouse when the cynical Lucy came by. “I’m building it for sparrows,” Charlie told her. Lucy said, “For sparrows? Nobody builds birdhouses for sparrows.” “I do,” replied Charlie Brown. “I always stick up for the underbird.” If we do not treat people in ways that express love and mercy, we are committing sin. Believers need to stick up for the "underbird"! We show love and mercy by treating all other people fairly, refusing to show favoritism. We live in the tension of being measured by the gospel, which affirms every person’s worth.
Conclusion:
1. We can treat people impartially only when we ignore any external differences between them and others.
2. Because people who belong to God are important to Him, we are to honor them, not to ignore them or to give preferential treatment to people who abuse them.
3. If we do not treat people in ways that express love and mercy, we are committing sin.
---
This article is the copyrighted property of Lee Hemen and may not be edited or redistributed without his written permission.
Comments