Today we will be looking at James 2:1-13.
"1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If 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," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: 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? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"a]">[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"b]">[b] also said, "Do not murder."c]">[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
Okay, first we will look at the first paragraph: "1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If 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," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
Now, you may think: "But I don't do that! I'm totally fine! I give to the poor. I don't need to be told to do more!"
Oh yes we do. And I say *we*, including myself. ;-)
As an example: A poor man, dirty and filthy, walks up to, and begins talking to you. You don't want to talk to them right? Yeah, I know for myself I tend to stay away from people like that.
But what if George Bush came up to and started talking to you. You would show him more respect wouldn't you? Okay, yes, despite the fact he is president. ;-) I mean, you would tend to show him more honor and respect wouldn't you?
Do you see the similarity between that and the verses? Yeah. I know. We don't want to admit it. But honestly, what is the difference? Okay, sure, George Bush is in a higher rank. But they are both human. Underneath that dirt, that poor guy is just like George Bush. They are both human!
Let's look at the next paragraph: " 5Listen, my dear brothers: 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? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?"
Wow... humbling... very. God says that those people we slander, those people we shove aside: *THOSE* are the people He has promised would inherit the kingdom of heaven. Heh heh... I think verse 6 has a bit of humor to it. Maybe you don't see it that way... but I sure do: "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?" Yup. Take that as food for thought. ;-) And even more so, verse 7, "Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong?" Yeah. Does that sound like the kind of person we should be honoring?
Next paragraph: " 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker."
Love your neighbor as yourself. Ever thought about that? Oh, sure, we've heard it a million times. But have we ever tried to follow it? I know I'm not that great about it. Verses 9-11 are... wow. Yeah. It says that even if we somewhat slander the poor, we are a lawbreaker. In verse 10, it says that if we stumble even over one thing, we are guilty of commiting every sin. We are as bad as people as people who commit adultery. As bad as those who murder. Yeah. Does that put things in perspective?
Next paragraph: "12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!""
Hmm... so... can I look dumb for once? I'm gonna say I don't know. =P You can ponder this over, and tell me what you think it means.
Thanks for reading!!
In Christ alone,
~Madison
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