NO FAVORITISM
Opening Prayer
Lamb of God, thank you for your sacrifice that purchased my salvation. I want my life to be a sacrifice of praise to you.
Read JAMES 2:1–13
Favoritism Forbidden
2 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? 6 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? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Footnotes
- James 2:8 Lev. 19:18
- James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
- James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘You are precious and honored in my sight, and … I love you’ (Isaiah 43:4a). As you reflect on God’s love for you, how does this help you respond to the challenge to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ (v. 8)?Recognizing the danger of personal discrimination, many job applications are required to be anonymized, with no reference to gender, age, or ethnicity. Partiality creeps into our lives and our common human tendency is to defer to those most likely to benefit us.
However, this is not God’s way. ‘People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7). If we believe in the glory of Jesus (v. 1), then we are called to reflect this truth. James illustrates partiality through the favor shown to someone with wealth and influence, a theme not unfamiliar in our churches today (vv. 2, 3). Building on this illustration, James emphasizes that spiritual riches are not related to material wealth, and by rejecting the poor, the vulnerable, and those different from ourselves, we place ourselves as judge, rejecting God’s sovereignty (v. 7).
In obeying God’s royal law (v. 8), our faith becomes characterized by action, not just words (v. 12), seeking to value everyone as equal. James concludes with the good news that God will judge with mercy (v. 13), when we have also treated others with compassion and love.
Apply
Where in your community might there be opportunities to stand for equality and acceptance?
Closing prayer
Father, help me to become more open-hearted and welcoming to those I find difficult to treat as equals.
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