How to live with people you don’t like
Pastor Andrew Chan
Message based on James 2:1-13
“A Faith That Works” Series
Scripture reading – James 2:1-13
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If 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,"
Scripture reading – James 2:1-13
4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, 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? 6But 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? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
Scripture reading – James 2:1-13
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,“ you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For 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.
Scripture reading – James 2:1-13
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Goal and Objective
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.” (v.12).
James’ desired objective – be merciful!
The world’s going to be filled with people you don’t like
The state of affairs in James
Instability: Time of great economic need in Jerusalem (circa 40 A.D. – series of famines)
Insecurity: Folks felt vulnerable
Immigration: Many pilgrims to Jerusalem stayed at the “fountainhead” of Christianity.
Increased Pressure: The church is reeling from the needs of a growing number of poor Christians and political unrest.
Increased Pressure
Many older Christian folks reside in Jerusalem in order to die there (where Jesus was resurrected). Many of them poor because families seize the opportunity of their conversion as an excuse for not supporting them.
A number of “angry” Jews were still looking for a free political Jewish state and were prone to violent acts and rhetoric.
Increased Pressure
James’ situation is rife with religious hotheads bent on violence (1:19, 2:11) and angry words due to politics and pressure of life with desperate needs.
A world under-sieged by “trials of many kinds” (1:2).
A world where many are “in humble circumstances” (1:9) such as “orphans and widows” (1:27) in an inhospitable land.
James’ world is much like ours
Search and destroy (hotheads)
A spray of gunfire and a high-speed crash on Vancouver’s west side ended with a single fatality early today (reported Thursday Feb.22, 07).
Angry words and accusations
Trump vs. Rosie
Virgie Arthur, the mother of Anna Nicole Smith vs. Howard K. Stern
Derogatory words exchanged.
Playing favorites to the rich and famous
Inhospitable world
The Bible shows us the Alternate Way
Remember we are equals
In the heart of Jewish church leader James, beats the mantra - people bear the image of God.
Even-ground – dignity of image-bearers of God
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Paul resonates:
Galatians 3:26-28
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
No place in God’s kingdom for snobbery
Don’t rob people of their dignity (v.3,4)
3If 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," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Church ought to be a discrimination free zone.
Favoritism is not a small sin (v.9-10).
9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Why do people like kissing up?
Get ahead in life?
Is it to cash in on favors later?
They’ll more likely take you through the wringer (v.6-7)
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?
Action Items
Obey the royal law (v.8).
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,“ you are doing right.
By accepting/appreciating people as they are
a. Do not confuse this: Acceptance is not approval.
b. You can accept people without approving of lifestyle.
The royal law restated (Gal.5)
13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Jesus’ example
Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4)
Jesus and the tax collectors and sinners (Lk.15)
Treat people royally!
Action Items
2. Order your life around God’s agenda by applying the “mercy-rule”
Be missional – God’s agenda “save the world” – showing grace-filled mercy
E.g. Jesus and the hated tax collectors (Matt.9:9-13)
Action items
3. Orient your life around service.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matt.20:26-28
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?"
12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.‘ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Jesus teaching on grace-filled action (Matthew 7)
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Let people be imperfect.
Let Jesus be Lord, God and Judge!
After all He died for the world, accepting anyone who’d believe in Him.
Serve others, serve Christ (Matt.25:37-40)
37"Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40"The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Conclusion
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.” (v.12).
Freedom: Grace-filled life sets you free to live a great life!
Follow Jesus: James’ desired objective – be merciful like Jesus! Be great like Jesus! You can become a great person!
Fact: The world’s going to be filled with people you don’t like and you won’t survive it if you can’t be great like Jesus.
Final question: Have you received Jesus as your master and guide in life?
