James Post #9 – James 2:1-13

For something a little different, I will begin today’s blog with a story.  You might even call it a parable.

This story is about a Sunday morning worship service at a long established, active church.  It was about half way through the service and the large congregation was standing and singing the second hymn.  At that same moment a stranger walked through the front door and into the sanctuary.  He wasn’t dressed like the rest of those gathered there for worship.  He was wearing jeans with both knees torn out, a slightly stained and definitely crumpled looking T-shirt with sandals on his bare feet and a tired looking back pack slung over one shoulder.  His hair was longer than any other man in the room and he looked like he may have lost his razor several days earlier.  The heads of the congregation began turning as the man walked right down the central aisle of the sanctuary, making his way to the front row where he turned to the right and sat down on the floor at the feet of the shocked worshippers standing there.  Many were wondering what the man wanted, what might be going on and what might be done about this unexpected intruder.  Just then one of the oldest members of the Church Council began to walk up the central aisle with a determined look on his face.  Everyone could hear the tap, tap, tap of his cane as he made his way slowly toward the stranger.  Elder Smith was nearly 80 years old and his walk fit his advanced age.

As the congregation saw this drama unfolding before them, every eye was on Elder Smith as he made his way to the front of the church and turned to face the young man seated on the floor.  Elder Smith had a reputation of being very conservative and traditional in his dress and demeanor and everyone expected fireworks at any moment.  Elder Smith walked over to the young man seated on the floor as every eye watched to see him give this young man a lesson in manners and decorum.  Instead, to the shock of everyone present including the pastor on the platform, Elder Smith, showing his advanced age, struggled to keep his balance as he leaned hard on his cane and lowered himself to the floor.  He smiled at the young man, sat next to him and turned toward the pulpit.  When asked after service what on earth he was thinking Elder Smith replied, “That young man came into God’s house all alone.  When he sat down there in front of the pews all I could think was how sad it was that he had to sit there all by himself.  That’s when I knew what I had to do so he wouldn’t have to worship our God all alone.   

Elder Smith got it right, didn't he?  I wonder what you were thinking as you read that little story.  I know that the first time I heard it my mind was not in the same place as the aged church elder.  Today James is going to talk to us about playing favorites in our relationships.  We all enter this life pretty much as equals.  We all make our arrival as sniffling, crying, leaking little people with no sense of status, rank or power.  Someone has suggested that most of us will leave this earth the same way.  Today’s lesson is entitled “All Men Are Created Equal” but the message may be quite different than what you might expect.  Turn to James 2 in your Bible and read James 2:1-13.  Did you remember to pray first?  I hope you did.

James 2:1-4 – “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?

James tells us that to show favoritism is to "become judges".  What about us?  Does this passage describe us in some way:  Before you say, “Not me!” take a moment and think about a few everyday scenes: Sitting in the waiting room and the Doctor or Dentist’s office, standing in line at the Post Office or grocery store, sitting in the Emergency Room or bus station, maybe sitting in church on a Sunday morning.  If God could see into your mind (which, of course He can) how would He feel about what He saw there?  If you are anything like me I’m guessing that you have moments in your day, too, where you are embarrassed to think that God did see your thoughts or maybe even heard your words.  We all “fall short of the glory of God”.  This isn’t an excuse, it’s a way of explaining when these things happen.  We are not perfect…..yet!

To discriminate, can mean to put down, to show where something or someone is better than something or someone else.  Discrimination involves judging and who are we to judge?!   Romans.3:23 reminds us that we are all sinners.  We all fall short, we all miss the mark, we all deserve hell and that is exactly where we all will be unless we have turned to Jesus and found forgiveness and redemption.  Sin, you see, is the great equalizer. [Romans 6:23]  Paul makes the accusation that ‘You have become “judges with evil thoughts”.  Evil thoughts suggests personal prejudice, bias, or even ulterior motives.  What impresses you about others?  Nice car/truck, expensive clothes, money, boat, camp, “toys”?  What do you think impresses God?  NONE OF THE ABOVE! God has said in His word that what He seeks from us is a surrendered, submitted, committed heart.

Psalm 51:17 says “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise”– To God, these are the ingredients, the makings of a Saint!

William MacDonald, in his Believer's Bible Commentary, states that the next few verses offer four reason why it is ridiculous for a believer to favor the rich or to look down on the poor.  I will defer to his teachings on verses 5 through 8.

 

James 2:5-7 - 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?

Reason #1 -  Verses 5,6A – God created and honors the poor.  Don’t favor the rich.  God doesn’t.  Their wealth means nothing to him.  When he chose the family, the mother and father he would use to bear and raise his own son, our Savior…he chose a poor, simple carpenter and his wife.  And how about the palace where he chose to have his son be born!  A stable (cave) filled with many years of sheep dung!  That was the birthplace specifically selected for the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Messiah!  God doesn’t favor or show special blessings to the rich.  In fact, it often seem that in scripture he has a special place in his heart for the needy, less fortunate in this world and he had some pretty harsh things to say regarding people of wealth.

Reason #2 -  Verses 6B – It is very often the rich who come after you or, as John Calvin said about this verse, "Why honor your executioners?"  Why would you want to show special favor to those who are more likely to turn their backs on you or even seek to harm you.

Reason #3 - Verse 7 - The rich often slander and belittle the name and followers of Christ.  I have found that it is more difficult for the rich to see their need of a Savior than the poor.  They look at their present situation and ask, “Why do I need Jesus?   Look at what I have all on my own!”  And many more scoff at the idea that they need faith in God.  Matthew 19:23,24 - “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”                                                         

 James 2:8, 9 – “ 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.”

 Reason #4 – Verses 8,9- It violates "the Royal law" (the Golden Rule) "Love your neighbor as yourself."  (Lev. 19:18) Remember it was Jesus who said that the greatest commandment, after loving God with everything you’ve got, was to love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Mt. 22:39)   Paul reminds us in Romans 12:16 that we are not to put ourselves above others.  “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” James tells us that favoritism is SIN!  Don't "dance with the devil" for some short term social or career gain when eternity is so much more important.  Remember that Jesus said we are to love others as we love ourselves…and that’s hard!  We need to ask God to help us love because sometimes I don’t think we can do it all on our own.

James 2:10-12 - 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.

There is no such thing as ‘big sins’ and ‘little sins’.  I can’t tell you how many times, in a discussion about sin,someone has said, “Well, I've never killed anyone!”   I’ve often said that a “little sin” is like being a “little pregnant”.  Think about that for a minute would you?  How can you be a “little pregnant”?  Either you are or you aren’t.  You can’t be a “little pregnant”.  Here’s another example.  Imagine sitting down with your doctor  and hearing him say “the test results are back and they show that you have a ‘little cancer’”.  I don’t know about  you but I think I know how I would react.  “WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘LITTLE CANCER’?!?”  See what I mean?  We like to think of sin in degrees but it's not in the Bible.  By thinking of other’s sins as bigger or worse than our own we are making ourselves feel a little less sinful or guilty.  God is crystal clear regarding our sin nature. "For all have sinned and for short of the glory of God.”   (Rom. 3:23).  God is also made it pretty clear how He feels about sin.  God hates sin! (Prov. 6:16-19)

God’s laws aren’t multiple choice.  He doesn’t differentiate when it comes to sin.  He says in verses 10 and 11 that if we commit one kind of sin we are guilty of breaking God’s law, period.  He doesn’t keep a score card or a tally sheet.  We don’t get to sin a certain number of times and then we are in trouble.  Remember the illustration of having a “little cancer”.  So what can we do to be “sinless” in the eyes of God?  Turn to Jesus who has already paid the price for those sins.  James reminds us of this in the very next verse.  In verse 12 we read about “the law that gives freedom.”   When we are set free from the sin in our life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf, it is freedom with strings attached.  We haven’t been set free to do whatever you want but free to do what is right.  Like living in a free country.  What are you free to do?  Live responsibly, as good citizens of the USA.  That’s what we are called to do with our Christian freedom as well…to live responsibly, as good citizen’s of God’s kingdom.  We have been set free to live our lives according to God’s teachings and following Jesus’ examples.  We are free to serve Him and live without the guilt, the burden or the shame of past sins.  This freedom comes to us by the grace of God.  We live by the grace of God.  His love is what sets us free and empowers us to live this life with and for Him. 

The final verse in today’s scripture reminds us that we are to show mercy to others as we have been shown mercy by our loving heavenly Father.  His mercy “triumphs over (our) judgement!"  When you have the opportunity to be judgmental or to be merciful, show mercy.  Live your faith everyday and with everyone God puts I your path.  Don’t just ‘show’ mercy, but ‘sow’ it as well.  As you show mercy to others (sow it into their lives) it inspires them to be merciful as well, or it should.  The main thing is for you to do what’s right, according to God’s word, and let the other person be responsible for themselves.  We all stand before God on or own.  Our own, that is, covered by the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope you “Love God with everything you’ve got.” And that you also, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”  Jesus called these the greatest commandmenst.  They are great words to live by.  Until next time, God bless.

On a Personal Note:  I want to thank all of you for taking the time to read these posts.  I have heard from several old friends that they are following this blog and finding it helpful to their daily walk with the Lord.  You don’t know how encouraging that is to the author.  It is a blessing to be able to share thoughts about God’s Word and it helps me to grow in Him as well.  Thanks again for letting me know you are out there, reading these articles.  If you haven’t had the chance to comment, I’d love to hear from you too.  It’s uplifting, encouraging and inspiring.  God bless and thank you.  Bob