James 2
Partiality and Favoritism
May 31, 2020
James 2:1-5 NIV
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 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. 3 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,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 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?
James is very upset about something he’s seen in the holy gatherings!
Rich people were getting special treatment.
James had a famous brother with the same feelings!
Luke 14:12-14 NIV
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
All of us are tempted to treat people differently, especially if someone can do something in return for us.
If you’re invited to a banquet, take the last place.
If you throw a banquet, invite the ‘last’ people.
Because at the GREAT BANQUET, the ‘last and the least’ will not only be the guests of honor, they will be the most populous group!
Story of William Booth and the Salvation Army (1865 in London)
The world says to use people. Jesus says to serve people.
We serve to serve, not to gain anything.
The Spirit is trying to install a new value system and way of seeing in humanity—one based on concern and honor for the ‘least of these.’
The Gospel goes to everyone equally.
Proverbs 22:2 NIV
“Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.”
God has chosen the poor.
V.5 - 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?
The very first words of the very first sermon given by Jesus makes it clear the poor are a priority to God
Luke 4:18 NIV (quoting Isaiah 61)
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”
99% of the world makes less than $35k per year.
The median income worldwide is $9700 per year.
God does not keep people poor. Poverty is an awful condition. God hears the cries of the poor.
For those of us who have experienced poverty, we’ve learned something about our fellow humans and about God that cannot come from worldly riches.
We never know God is all we need, until God is all we have.
There’s a special bond that is formed with God in moments of desperation.
This is why James and Jesus both agreed that we have more to learn from the poor, many times, than the rich and successful.
