Do you love the Lord? Do you love the Lord’s people? Do you love some of the Lord’s people more than others? Do you find yourself shunning or hating some of the Lord’s people? Whether we realize it or not, many of us have deep-rooted prejudices. Some have a bitter racial prejudice. Others have a strong political prejudice. Some Christians show great prejudice against those who disagree with their particular theology or have higher education, and on and on. In order to overcome our prejudices whatever they may be based upon we must remember that God loves everyone and He sent His Son to prove it.
In today’s text, James specifically deals with the early church showing favoritism towards the rich and shunning the poor. But the lesson in this text can easily be applied to any prejudice you may hold. Understand that prejudice is sin. If you struggle with prejudice, ask the God Who loves all people to help you repent and move forward. Read James words and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and help you put your prejudices behind you.
“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 asyourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speakand so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:1-13, NKJV.
Lord, help us to love people as You love them,
Pastor Mike