Read:
James 2:1-13
The main emphasis
in today’s passage of scripture is favouritism.
To show favouritism is prejudice whether it’s based on economic status,
race or anything else. When God’s people
come together to worship Him corporately at church the world should be baffled
at how people of difference races, economic and social levels and age groups can
have such love and harmony. Showing partiality
puts man as judge in the place of God. But
James goes further than that in saying that showing favouritism aligns you with
God’s enemies (v. 6-7). He mentions how
the rich exploit the poor (v. 6), this should not be! Exploitation of the poor has been going on
for centuries and is one way the rich have gotten wealthy - James refers to
this as blasphemy (v. 7).
In verse 9
James plainly states that favouritism is sin.
Partiality is sinful is because it violates God’s law of love (v.
8). Part of loving your neighbour as
yourself includes treating each person fairly and objectively. This means caring about their needs, their
feelings, their desires and treating people the way you would want to be
treated. When people favour the rich they
are treating the poor with contempt, which is sinful. This topic matters so much to James that he
includes a discussion on how violating the law in one area makes a person
guilty of breaking the whole law (v. 11).
James is really trying to hammer home the importance of realizing that
favouritism is sin. This shows the
importance of not dismissing any Biblical command as no big deal. James concludes this section by reminding
believers to remember that judgment is coming (v. 12). Those who refuse to show mercy to others
will face God’s merciless judgment but those who show mercy will receive mercy
(v. 13). If we profess to know Christ
then there will be evidence of that in our lives through the way that we show
mercy to others.
Prayer and Journaling
1. Ask
the Lord to reveal to you any judgmental words, prejudice, thoughts or other
forms of favouritism that you have engaged in this past week. Confess as necessary.
2. Ask
the Lord to work in your heart and mind to help you see beneath the surface as
you relate to people. Ask Him to grow
you in your love for people and to see them as He sees them.
3. Thank
the Lord for His unfailing love and care for all people! Ask Him to grow the church in showing
Christ-like attitudes towards all people.
