Are you enjoying what we learn from James?
We often read the Bible to only suit ourselves, don’t we? We like to find the nice promises, receive prophesies that promise prosperity and a good life and we usually prefer to avoid the passages that call us to account. During the last ten messages we have discussed chapter one of the book of James and have been seriously challenged. What are we going to do about it? James mentioned that doing the Word of God is vital. Are we doing it?
We see the following practical issue, which James addressed in chapter two, so often in our churches.
“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?
“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 those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:1-13)
Oh how man yearns to feel important and therefore pursues it. How many of us have the ambition for a higher position within the church? We often do not care much for obeying the Lord, as long as we can be in authority within the church. It is also those who are used to having everything in terms of money, position at work, at the social club and so on that pursue position within the church. How often are pastors reluctant to address sin in the lives of those who tithe abundantly out of fear that they may leave the church? How do we perceive the divide between rich and poor, influential and simple or bold and timid? Do we recognise the gifts in those we consider least and develop it?
We often do we look only to obvious sins such as lying, stealing, swearing, adultery, and so on as sin. Any disobedience to God’s word is sin. This passage from James is self explanatory. Favouritism is sin! There is not one Christian on earth without a gift to make a huge difference in our Jerusalem (local area), Judea (province/county), Samaria (country), and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The church should not be a social club with social ranking, but a training centre where gifts are developed and employed to the glory of God. Leadership should not be a question of position, but of service. If we want to be great, we must serve (Luke 22:25-27 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22:25-27&version=NIV).
If we do show favouritism in any form we will be held accountable to God in equal measure to the adulterer, thief, swindler, etc. that we so easily condemn. Jesus loved and lived among the sinners, the poor and the humble at heart, but He condemned the attitude of the Pharisees and Teachers of the law (Matthew 23). Therefore, if we happen to be rich or of influential position, we should be careful not to be counted amongst the latter.
Lord, help us to be humble.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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