James 2: 1-13 - Sin of Favoritism
James 2: 1-13 - Sin of Favoritism
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”—Malcolm S. Forbes.
Have you ever stopped to inspect how you treat different types of people? The extremes may not help this example, for most can overlook the examples like treating a celebrity vs. the homeless. Really inspect this concept and apply it to your workplace, your neighbors, the local market, your shop, or the service station you fill up your car. Think about how you treat someone who can do nothing for you, vs. how you may treat someone who holds your future or your paycheck in their hands.
The sin of favoritism, something that might not be a popular topic or even something we think we struggle with. But, I think, to some degree, we all struggle with this on some level. I mentioned above to move past the extreme examples, but they are some obvious areas that highlight our struggle with this. Take for a moment how you would act, or what you would do if the most famous person you know came to church and sat next to you? I can imagine how my girls would act if an influencer showed up, or if one of their favorite actors or musical artists sat next to them. Who are we kidding, how would I act if Roger Federer, Elon Musk, of Dave Grohl came and sat next to me? There is no doubt I would respond and treat them differently and show them favor.
James spends significant time in chapter two, talking about the sin of favoritism. Yes, sin. Check this out:
“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 NIV
This is a high bar, and one that we need to inspect our hearts and our actions. James drills into this with those words have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Ouch! Take it back to that opening quote, how do you treat those who can do nothing for you, that is an excellent way to inspect our character.
“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 NIV
In these verses, James makes a little ninja move on us. Playing out some realities of the rich who are exploiting people, those who we can prop up and put on a pedestal might just be the ones who are using us for gain and even blaspheming the name of Jesus. James is exposing some character flaws that we all can find ourselves struggling with, putting the rich, popular and famous on some type of pedestal that gets special attention and favoritism while treating the poor like trash. This is unacceptable, and James is calling it out.
“If you 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.” - James 2:8-9 NIV
The royal law James is talking about here we discussed back in chapter one. James is referring to Jesus, and the Torah of Freedom, Jesus summarizing the entire OT law into the simple reality of Love God and Love Others. Showing favoritism is trashing this command of loving others, and this is a sin. We must call it what it is, sin. As Christ-followers, serious Christ-followers - I am not saying Christians. As Christ-followers, we must rise above favoritism and stop with the star-struck gazes and pedestals we put people on, and recognize the humanity in all people.
This is where recognizing the real and true grace that Jesus has afforded us comes genuinely into place. Taking the time to remember our true brokenness and need for a savior. Taking yourselves back in time, and deeply connecting with the grace that Jesus extended to us, and the acceptance of His love, His grace and His mercy that was extended and afforded to us as a gift. We were broken, separated from God, and destined for eternal separation from God. But, because of the grace of God, Jesus and the gospel saved us, not because we deserved it, not because we earned it, but because of grace, and grace alone we were afforded mercy.
“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 2:12-13 NIV
Our character is exposed by how we treat those who can do nothing for us. What does that look like in your life, what does that look like in mine? I think we need to understand how ugly and broken we are and recognize that only because of Jesus, we have mercy and life. Understanding our real condition can help us extend love, grace, and compassion to others without showing favoritism. Loving God and Loving Others as human beings, as our neighbors, is a calling that God has put on all our lives. It’s my prayer today to not show favoritism but to show the love of Christ to everyone who I cross paths with.