A Life of Works Produced by Faith
Part 10
“The Problem With Partiality”
Date: October 13, 2002 A.M Service
Place: Allendale Baptist Church
Text: James 2:1-9
Introduction
Some have said this book of James is very similar to the book of Proverbs. They both address practical areas of the lives of those who strive to life of Godliness. The main idea in the text this morning, the main thought that James is pointing to these new Christians, is that God wants his people to demonstrate pure religion by overcoming the practice of partiality and by producing deeds of compassion.
The world is filled with hatred, discrimination and prejudices. We see it on the news and read about it in our papers. There are those who demand special treatment because of their race, religion or social standing. And not only do some demand this special treatment, but also society gives into the demands of some because they are more prominent, or wealthy.
James is telling us a life filled with hatred, prejudices and partiality, for the Christian, is a life that is in direct conflict of a life of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This morning my desire is to address this matter in two aspects of how this message speaks to us; first of course in our personal life. As I said earlier, our desire as Christians should be teachable and moldable before the Lord, willing to receive the “Law of Liberty”, with open hearts, and willing to change anything in our lives that is not pleasing to Him. Second, as the church, the body of Christ, our attitudes and our ideas of others must change, and we must ask God to let us see trails, circumstances, and yes other people as God sees them.
First let’s see…
I. The Problem With Partiality (verse 1)
A. The word “faith” James uses here is not referring to the act of believing, but to the entire life of Christian faith which has as its focus Jesus Christ
1. Jude verse 3 says; “Beloved, while I was diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
B. John MacArthur says; “This faith Jude is referring to is the whole body of revealed salvation truth contained in the Scriptures. It is a call to know sound doctrine, to be discerning in sorting out truth from error, and to be willing to confront and attack error.”
C. In verse 1, James commends Jesus as “the Lord of Glory”
1. What James is saying here is, Jesus is the glorious Lord. A term that presents the full presentation of God’s presence and majesty.
2. As believers, Jesus is the object of our faith. We have made a trust and commitment to Him.
3. And as seeing Him as such, it is inconsistent with our faith to practice partiality or to show favoritism.
D. The practice of favoritism that James was addressing in his day involved giving benefits to people who had outward advantages such as money, power, or social prominence.
1. His readers were courting the idea or already showing favor to these important people over those of lesser prominence.
2. James says this must stop.
3. As I shared with someone from another church, about our building program the first thing they asked was how in the world is our little church going to pay for a building that size. Then almost immediately they said there is a subdivision of big, nice homes about a mile from you, the first thing I would do is visit every house in that neighborhood and get some of that money coming into the church.
4. I reminded them that yes folks in nice homes and nice subdivisions need Jesus, and so do those who live in less expensive houses. And if we as a church are faithful in sharing the gospel with all, this pastor is just dumb enough to believe God will provide all our needs.
II. The Example of Partiality
A. Then James gives just one example of partiality in the church in verses 2-3.
1. A rich man with fine clothes and expensive jewelry enters into the church the same time a poor man dressed in shabby clothes.
a. The rich man may have driven up in a brand new Lincoln Towncar.
b. The poor man in what we used to call a Hooptie.
c. The rich man in nice tailored clothes
d. The poor man in shabby torn clothing
2. These two men were also received very different attitudes in our worship.
a. The rich man being seated. Tradition tells us that the early church did not have many furnishings, especially chairs. But he was shown favor.
b. The poor man was directed to the cheap seats or probably standing room only.
B. By giving this example, we are all shown and made to think of how we have treated people at times.
1. Now don’t try to be so holy. There used to be an old saying “you are what you eat”.
2. In today’s standard we say you are what you wear. We put so much emphasis on the clothes we wear. Now don’t get me wrong, it is not a sin to dress nice. But our society says if you want to be popular, if you are to be successful you must dress this way, and wear this brand of clothes.
3. Well what about the church. I have heard it for years. We should wear our best when we go to church.
C. Now you may be saying our church does not do that. Maybe you do not show favoritism in the area of wealth.
1. But what about age?
2. What about race?
Let me just stop and say this it is said that the 11 o’clock hour is the most segregated hour in the world. The rich want to worship with the rich only. Whites want to worship with whites only. Blacks want to worship with blacks only. Senior adults want to worship with senior adults only. Youth want to worship with youth only.
It is the truth and it happens in churches everywhere. We do not want to be inclusive to all people rich or poor, black or white, young or old. And James says it must STOP. There is no place for that among true believers of the Lord Jesus. And I must go on to say there is no place for it in the church!!!
III. Learning the Evil Results of Partiality (Verses 5-7)
A. In these next three verses James gives a series of rhetorical questions leaving us to answer for ourselves.
B. James tells his readers; it is not only in contrast of the faith you say you have in the Lord Jesus, but have you gained anything by showing partiality?
C. The area that he is stressing to Christians is if you say you have faith, you say you love the Lord, then let your words and your actions be the same.
Then he addresses
IV. The Rebuking of Partiality (verses 8-9)
A. The “Royal Law”
1. This term is better-translated sovereign law.
2. He calls it the royal law because it belongs to the King of kings.
B. What is the royal law?
1. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
2. This is a direct quote from Leviticus 19:18
3. Maybe the one that showed partiality to the rich man was defending himself by saying, “I was just trying to love my neighbor.”
4. But what about his actions toward the poor man?
C. Think about what this is commanding us to do.
1. It means we should care for others as we care for ourselves.
2. To see others needs and to minister to their needs as Jesus does ours.
D. Jesus did not show favoritism.
1. When He spoke to the wealthy religious Pharisees He called them hypocrites, liars & dogs.
2. He addressed the sins in their lives.
E. To the poor and lowly, He meet them at their need.
1. Jesus looked at the woman at the well, that had been married many times, and the one she was living with was not her husband, Jesus said if you drink from the living water you will never thirst again.
2. To the blind that was seen as a person with sin in their life, Jesus gave them sight, and they saw the Light of the world.
3. To the leper who was seen as physically and spiritually unclean, Jesus touched and healed him.
My friend I’m grateful, I’m thankful, and I sure am glad, Jesus does not show partiality. I’m so thankful when He saw me in the filthy unrighteous rags of sin, He chose this poor sinner.
Maybe you’re here this morning and you have never come to the Savior. In your sin and sorrow and shame, Jesus is reaching out to you today.
Maybe you are here today and you are the one this message is speaking to, you are the one who has been showing partiality, He offers forgiveness to you.
However God has spoken to you this day, you respond…
