Playing Favorites
Opening Prayer
Lord, You are the Eternal Word. In a world saturated with words, make me more attentive to Your Word.
Read James 2:1-13
[1] 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,” 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,” also said, “You shall not murder.” 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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Where do you witness favoritism? How does it affect you?With James, “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (13) distinguishes between the “world” and the Kingdom of God (5). Ingrained “honor culture” insisted on the importance of status. These “self-honored” viewed humility as deserved judgment upon the weak and poor. Wealth brought personal honor which, in turn, brought glory. Here, James calls Jesus “glorious” (1). Yet his glory lies in the ultimate act of humiliation. To discriminate against the poor is to despise humility (6), and despising humility is despising Christ (7). James reminds his readers that Jesus the King established a simple, clear and irrevocable “royal law” (8): “Love your neighbor as yourself.” More significantly, Jesus attached this law to a story about a Samaritan showing great mercy and overcoming racial and status hurdles (Luke 10:37), a connection James knows his readers will make. James says to either stay with the old way of honor and law, and know that even the smallest failure such as showing favoritism will have maximum consequences (9,13), or live under the freedom of the new way (12).
Apply
James links upholding justice and mercy with spiritual health. How’s your spiritual health? Commit a random act of kindness today.
Closing prayer
Merciful God, empower me to show Your loving acceptance to others just as You have shown mercy and acceptance to me.
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