The Book of James - 3
THE CHRISTIAN'S RELATIONSHIPS - Chapter 2, Verses 1 - 12
The passage for this study reads like this:
"My brothers as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favouritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 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 among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
There is some very sound advice here! "Do not show favouritism." Who are we to express such judgement on another? Rich and poor are of equal value to God. After all, Christ died for all conditions of men. As followers of the Saviour we as Christians must be like Him in heart and love for all.
It is true that those who are considered lowly in the eyes of the world are often those who most readily respond to God's call to them. Notice how James expresses this in verses 5 and 6:
"Listen, my dear brothers: 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 to those who love Him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?"
It so often happens that those who have much of this world's goods and those who are in comfortable positions, tend to put their trust in these things instead of in the Lord. They become proud of their possessions and come to despise those who are less fortunate. A Christian must never let such things happen. If we are blessed with much then we must still be loving and sympathetic to those who have less. We must be willing to share of the things the Lord has entrusted to us with those in need. Mutual Christian love must always be the characteristic of every Christian community.
This quality of Christian living is not merely something which is commendable. It is actually a command from God, and that not only in the New Testament, but also in the Old Testament. James put it like this in verse 8:
"If you keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbour as yourself', you are doing right."
James is here quoting Leviticus chapter 19 verse 18 which also says:
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord."
This is the "Royal Law." It is God's standard, a standard He expects us to keep. If we do not keep that standard we are breaking God's law; and if we break God's law we are guilty of sinning against Him.
This brings us back to the matter of showing favouritism to some people:
(v.9) "But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers. For whoever keeps the whole law at yet stumbles at just one point isguilty of breaking all of it.
What James is trying to teach the believers here is the fact that there is really no such thing as a"little sin." Anything which is contrary to the love of God is contrary to His law of love. Everybrother and sister in Christ is equally precious to the Lord. Therefore we must not set one up above another. This does not mean that we do not respect those whom God has placed over us, but that we should honour them and serve them well. But we LOVE all Christians equally because we are all equal in the sight of God.
So it is no light thing to oppose God's will. The standards of Christian relationships set out for us in this passage are those at which every believer should aim. If all of us were to reach up to this manner of living, then the world around would quickly recognise what it really means to be a Christian, and the change that trusting the Lord Jesus brings. Anything less than this will be a very poor testimony.
James concluding verses in this passage sum up for us the whole situation:
(v.12-13) "Speak and actas those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement."
We are reminded again that our speech and our lives are both vital in demonstrating our Christian faith. It is possible to speak the truth, to proclaim all the correct doctrines of the Scriptures, and yet never show it in the way we live - in our actions. Sadly this does happen from time to time in the lives of professing Christians. How often have you heard it said, "Well, if that's what a Christian does, I don't want to be one!" This only brings shame on the name of the Lord.
So James is saying that we must speak and LIVE the Christian life. It must be Christ Himself who is living and working through us. We should want people to see HIM and not us in the things we say and do.
Guard against any form of pride in being a Christian. You are only a Christian because of God's mercy towards you. What you are is by His grace, totally unmerited by you. Any good that you may accomplish can only come from the power of the Lord within you by His Spirit. Even the power to love the unlovely, and to avoid all kinds of favouritism must spring from Him.
Continue daily to pray that you will truly show the love of God in your life and in the things you say. Put James' advice into practice. Seek always to be just what Christ wants you to be. That is the way to a good Christian testimony and to victory and joy in living.