Equal in His Eyes (James 2:1-10)
One congregation I served sent House to House – Heart to Heart into the community. A lady called asking for help, and I have never met a poorer woman in all my life. She owned almost nothing—her home was simply pieces of plywood that had been hammered together. The church helped her with food, and Tammy organized a drive among the ladies to help get her some clothes.
I began picking this lady up for worship—no, she didn’t look all that clean, and she didn’t smell great. But, she was coming to worship, and I was conducting the Open Bible Study with her. However, one Sunday morning changed everything. After worship, this lady was standing in the parking lot talking to me; however, one of the elders needed to give me some instructions for the following week. He stepped between me and this woman, never looked at her, never acknowledged her, but he kept his back to her the whole time. He talked to me, and he then walked off as though this lady—to whom he had never spoken—didn’t even exist. After that, she refused to come back.
If you’re honest with yourself, you might have demonstrated prejudice, too. You might cringe when you see someone begging on the side of the road, or you might turn your head quickly away from a homeless person. Perhaps you’ve avoided certain people who have come to worship here. Maybe you’re troubled by the sight of Hispanics or other minorities around town.
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James saw people struggle with prejudice against the poor, and he wrote “Christians do not show partiality.”
Scripture (James 2:1-10)
verse 1:
James didn’t want these brethren to hold their faith in Jesus and show partiality; James proceeded to provide an example of partiality.
verses 2-4:
Two men entered the worship assembly: One man wore fine clothing and gold rings, and the other man wore shabby clothing. Gold rings were a status symbol of great wealth, and the rich often dressed ostentatiously. The poor, on the other hand, often only had one cloak, and that cloak was often extremely dirty.
The Christians would say to the rich man, “You sit here in a good place,” but they would tell the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet.” The Greek term for “assembly” is literally “synagogue;” because many Christians had grown up as Jews, their worship often resembled the synagogue. In synagogue gatherings, most people sat on benches, but the most prestigious seats were on raised platforms. Seating was limited, and the poor often sat on the floor.
If these Christians made distinctions between rich and poor, they became “judges with evil thoughts.” They were judging one class of people as better than another class.
verse 5:
The truth that God cares especially for the poor runs throughout Scripture. They’re precious in his sight, for he is all they have.
verse 6-7:
In Palestine—indeed, throughout the Roman Empire—the rich oppressed the poor. Roman courts allowed the rich to sue the poor, but they did not allow the poor to sue the rich.
verse 8:
James called the command to love one’s neighbor the “royal law.” In Rome, an emperor’s edict overruled the courts. God, the ultimate King, gave his edict to love one’s neighbor.
verse 9:
Because God loves everyone, he expects his people to love every neighbor; the Christian cannot pick and choose which neighbor he loves.
verse 10:
Just as one cannot pick and choose which neighbor he loves, one cannot pick and choose which parts of God’s law he will obey.
Application
“Christians do not show partiality.” Because God expects you to be impartial, you must not show partiality. Partiality is an attitude; therefore, let’s examine your attitude.
One: Your Attitude Toward Possessions.
James wrote about prejudice toward the poor; therefore, explore your attitude toward Possessions. Understand: Everything you have is a gift of God. “You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth” (Deut 8:18). “Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God” (Eccl 5:19). Notice also what Abraham said to the rich man: “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things” (Lk 16:25). From whom did the rich man receive his good things? From Almighty God.
God has blessed you with everything you possess. You might say, “Justin, I worked hard—I spent years getting an education and years working my way up the ladder.” I don’t wish to dimmish your hard work one iota; however, who gave you the talents you have and who providentially provided the opportunities which came your way? Almighty God
Two: Your Attitude Toward People.
Christians were neglecting the poor because they were a lower class they thought was beneath them. Understand a truth about People: Jesus Christ died for that person you don’t like. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Jesus “is the propitiation [the atonement] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn 2:2).
You have never met someone for whom Jesus did not die. No matter how much the person has or doesn’t have, no matter for whom he votes or to what political party he belongs, no matter the color of her skin or the thickness of her accent, no matter one’s addictions or sexual orientation or past sins. Jesus died for all People; therefore, you cannot show favoritism.
Three: Your Attitude Toward the Potentate.
Your attitude toward the Potentate, the King—the Lord God—influences how you see people. God shows absolutely no favoritism. God sends physical blessings on everyone: “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:45). God accepts any person—regardless of race—into his family: “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35).
You must understand that the Potentate wishes all men—regardless of who they are—to come to him. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). God doesn’t care who someone is—rich or poor, Republican or Democrat, gay or straight, alcoholic or teetotaler, American or Iraqi—he wants people to come before him and repent and find salvation through his Son Jesus.
Have you repented and found salvation through his Son Jesus?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.