God Don’t Play Favorites
We live in a world and in a country that shows favoritism based on things like class, race, gender and wealth. Those who don't fit into those categories are often left out, discriminated against, oppressed and denied. It is frustrating and disheartening to see people receive exceptions that benefit them over others, just because. Love doesn’t play favorites. And James warned Christians (James 2:1-12) that they were not to show favoritism amongst one another. Favoritism was not in line with Christ's sacrifice on the cross. He died so that whosoever believed in Him would be saved and have eternal life. In God's kingdom, faith alone is the basis of God's grace and salvation. And James taught that any other divisions that we erected amongst ourselves is judgmental and sinful. I pray, this week, that the love we show to one another will tear down any barriers that the world has told us that we need to observe.
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 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. 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? (James 2:1-4) God is no respecter of persons. Regardless of status, family ancestry, fame, political power, etc., God is ready and willing to offer His grace and mercy for salvation to all who have faith in Jesus. James cautions Christians against showing favoritism in their treatment of people, calling such attitudes evil, discriminatory and judgmental. In short, James tells us that this is a sinful attitude for Christians to show toward one another. Jesus tore down the walls of division that separate us!
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? 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? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? (James 2:5-7). The thought here from James is that those who have little may actually have a rich faith, because they have nowhere else to hide but in the safety of God's arms (Ps. 27:5). Those who have the ability to oppress others are generally those with money and power. The rich and powerful may trust in those things more than they trust in God. Paul said similar things when he said God called the foolish, weak and lowly "so that no one may boast before Him" (1 Cor. 1:26-29). So if we dishonor and discriminate against the poor, we are doing so against those whom God in His great wisdom has called and recognized for their faith. If God has called my brother or sister, who am I to treat them as less than?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, 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, “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.
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 2:8-12) The royal law was cited by Jesus as the first and second greatest commandments (Love the Lord your God...Love your neighbor... Matt. 22:37-39). Keeping the law requires that you keep the whole law. If you fail to keep even one part, you are guilty of not keeping all of the law. The law that gives freedom is salvation by God's grace and mercy, through faith in Jesus (see Romans 8:1-2). Failure to love our neighbor means that we are judging them, instead of showing them mercy. An unmerciful attitude is in violation of the law that set us free. James tells us that as Christians that we must love our neighbor (regardless of status, means, position or power) with the same love and grace as we received from God for our salvation. Without regard to position, power, wealth or other worldly designations. Am I treating others as God's children or am I violating the grace God showed in saving me?
Jesus taught his disciples that the kingdom of God is governed by a different set of attitudes than the world subscribes to. Righteousness, faith, justice and love are valued in God's kingdom over money, power and prestige. God is not impressed by the things that the world is impressed by. Instead, God looks on the inside of us to determine our love for Him and our faith in the Lord (Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart 1 Sam. 16:7). Interestingly enough, most of us would not have been saved if the same criteria that we use in showing favoritism to others were applied to us by God. Jesus broke down the walls that divided us (Jew/Gentile, rich/poor, slave/free, etc), and I am so glad He did. And He broke them down so that "whosoever will" could be saved. If the Lord broke them down, who are we to try to erect them again by showing favoritism and discrimination amongst one another. We are called and saved by a God who wants us to love Him and commands that we love our brothers and sisters, regardless of their station in life, the way that He loves all of us. It was only because of God's grace that you and I are saved. And the good news of our salvation is that it is freely given to all who have faith in Jesus. God doesn't play favorites with His children.... and neither should you!
Blessings,
Rev Glenn
