18 October 2005 Devotion for Today “Showing Partiality” James 2:1-9
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:1-9
What is partiality? It is the showing favor or valuing certain persons more than others because of the perception of what they can do for you or the group that you are with. It happens frequently on all social levels and it also frequently happens in the church. I find it interesting the reaction that people have toward visitors who show up at church. If they seem educated, wear nice clothes, or drive a nice automobile they seem to get more attention than the guy who shows up in the pick up truck wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. I have actually seen where people will walk right past the latter without so much as a glance so that they can speak to the more wealthy person. If a dignitary or some other notable individual comes into the congregation it is often amusing to watch people fall all over themselves in an effort to greet them. To my shame I must admit I have done this myself. James makes it very plain that this sort of behavior is sin- on the same level as drunken dissipation, murder, or sexual infidelity.
James obviously is very concerned about this matter judging by the length of material to which he devotes to it. He tells us to resist treating people favorably. First of all, wealthy people know when they are being patronized. It is as demeaning to them as it is ignoring the poor person. It demonstrates that we only value them for their money-and how much potentially it can show up in our wallets-rather than valuing them as individuals who have the same spiritual needs as everyone else. Showing more attention to others for what they can do for us exhibits a lack of faith in God to provide for us or to give us the self esteem that we feel that we need. It may make us look good to be seen in the presence of the astute, the sophisticated, the wealthy, or the powerful. But it does not make us look good to God. It is interesting how Jesus, the half-brother of this apostle, was sought out by the rich young ruler, and people like Nicodemus. But Jesus did not seek them out. He challenged these men to give their lives to God and did not fear offending them. He related the same concern to the poor, the prostitutes, the tax collectors and the sick.
We ought then to be thankful for the favor that God bestows upon us-not because of who we are or in what we have done-but because none of us are worthy for God to give us one glance in our direction-much less be saved. We are saved because of who God is, not because of who we are. Thank Him for His impartial love for all sinners today. Have a blessed day.
No comments:
Post a Comment