Bible Study - Pressure Points - Partiality - James 2:1-13 - September 15, 2013

Bible Study – Pressure Points – The Pressure of Partiality – September 15, 2013

This is lesson three in our series entitled “Pressure Points.”

Our scripture is James 2:1-13

James addressed a problem in the local synagogues. He used the word “meeting” which the Greek word used can mean “synagogue” or “meeting place for official purposes.” James pointed to a problem of some Christians showing favoritism or partiality to the wealthy when they came to worship. The Christian church in that day was young and growing. The situation James referred to may have actually happened or he may have used it as an illustration of a trend he had observed.

The leadership in the early churches likely wanted the church to grow in number for various reasons. First and foremost would have been to gain new converts. They soon discovered that the physical church needed money. They realized that important people, powerful people and wealthy people in the community aligning with them would entice others in the community to join them. It is a form of endorsement for that church. This is true today in some churches.

James was pointing out that showing such partiality or favoritism was a reflection of their hearts and was a sin. It is vital that Christians, especially Christians in leadership positions, be filled with, guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Dependence upon the Holy Spirit shows Spiritual growth and maturity in Christians. That is, their calling is to minister to whoever seeks truth, rich or poor. Church leadership must be led and guided by the Holy Spirit not by the glitter of gold, flashy clothes or status in life. That includes Pastor, deacons, elders, teachers, committee leaders and anyone serving in the church. Church leadership tends to get a body to fill a position. The key is for leadership to pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to fill positions and those positions filled by those who have the gift from the Holy Spirit for that position. Needs in the church are to be filled by those called. I know, I can hear it now, “If we waited for those who are called to respond, we would never fill certain needs.” The question is do we want to be involved in a church that depends upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of church life? Do we trust for our LORD to provide?

There is a church I know about where leadership was led by the LORD for that church to become a Holy Spirit led church. The pastor was led by the Holy Spirit to match the gifts of the Spirit to the various committees which the church had. It was to be a Holy Spirit led church. It was to take a year to for the transition to take place. Unfortunately, it never happened. Often, tradition overrules allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and build a solid foundation.   

Let’s explore.

Let’s read James 2:1-4:

1 My • brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. 3 If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

First, we see that James was addressing fellow Christians when he referred to “my brothers.” He also made it clear that he was addressing his remarks to those who had placed their faith in CHRIST. They were not just believers in name only but believers who had a genuine relationship with CHRIST. He did not mince words regarding something he had either observed or saw a trend brewing in their midst. Showing favoritism or partiality was not in keeping with the message of CHRIST or being a Christian. He gave his brothers and sisters in CHRIST a graphic example to make his point.

A person dressed to the nines came to worship. This person had means based upon how he was dressed and his gold ring that caught their attention. Another person came in who was, as we used to say, dirt poor. The poor person had on dirty clothes. He might have had an unpleasant smell. These two men arrive at the meeting at the same time. The church leaders or greeters welcomed the wealthy person with open arms and treated him with respect. They were very gracious to him, whereas, those same leaders or greeters treated the obviously poor person with contempt. The poor person, the wealthy person and others knew there was a double standard in this group.

I think most of us have lived long enough to have seen similar treatment toward the rich and powerful when they visited our church. I know in one church where we were members, a well known business man joined our church and immediately there was a buzz of excitement. There was speculation that he would be a good donor and possibly would provide relief to some of our debt.

Some members hope that the well-known person will act like a magnet to bring others into the congregation to help the church grow.

James was getting at the heart of our motivation for doing the things we do as Christians. Certain motivations reflect our heart and our relationship with CHRIST. Are we being led by the Holy Spirit or is our flesh nature revealing itself when we show favoritism or partiality? It is a measure of a Christian’s Spiritual growth and maturity. Every human came into earth empty-handed and we all will leave empty-handed. The world is a blend of all sorts of people and all have Spiritual needs. The example that CHRIST set was not to discriminate. The gospel is for everyone, rich or poor. James revealed that when Christians discriminate, evil lurks in their hearts because they still have areas in their lives that need to come under the authority of CHRIST.

This goes back to our previous lessons in this series. When we face certain issues in our lives, personally or as a church body, they could be trials. How we, individually or collectively, respond to these trials reveals our heart. Is our response to the issues of life a response of the flesh or of the Holy Spirit?  Has the Holy Spirit renewed our hearts and minds to be in-tune and in harmony with the desires of GOD toward others through our relationship with CHRIST?

How Christians respond to certain people reflects their hearts, good or not so good. We, as Christians, reflect CHRIST in our lives and are accountable to GOD.

Let’s read James 2:5-7:

5 Listen, my dear brothers: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him? 6 Yet you dishonored that poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you at your baptism?

James began verse 5 by telling his audience of fellow Christians, “listen.” The Greek word use for “listen” carries the idea of paying close attention to what he was writing to them, to understand it, comprehend it and apply it.

GOD chose the poor to be rich in faith. This meant that those who are Spiritually poor seek strength and growth from GOD. They seek GOD’S guidance and wisdom. JESUS said it well in HIS sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:3:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Those who are physically rich in the things of life often feel that they do not need GOD in their lives until they get into trouble. The physically rich often tend to be self-sufficient and prey upon the poor. James made the point that GOD looks at the heart. Often, the poor have a servant’s heart and that is what the Kingdom of GOD is all about.

The wealthy who know what it is like to live poor often have a willing heart to serve.  

Our attitude toward others reveals much about our relationship with CHRIST and our Spiritual growth and maturity. James deals with the reality of having such bias attitudes and natures toward others. When prejudice, discrimination, favoritism or partiality surfaces in our lives it needs to be a wake-up call for a Spiritual checkup.

The rich are the very group that makes the life of the poor difficult, yet there are those in the Christian church who want to cater to them. So, what is the solution? Indeed, there is a solution which leads us to our next scripture.

Let’s read James 2:8-13:

8 Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is • guilty of breaking it all. 11 For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James directs Christians to keep the “royal law” in mind when they are tempted to discriminate. If Christians will keep in their minds that GOD’S desire is for them to “Love your neighbor as yourself” everything else will fall into place when serving the LORD. They will know that all humans, rich or poor, are our neighbors.

Discriminating, showing partiality or favoritism is a form of judgment and it is a sin. It is the same as breaking one of the Ten Commandments.

Many of the members of the Christian church were former followers of the Jewish religion. In Judaism, they considered the wealthy to be blessed by GOD and that GOD was punishing the poor or sick because of some sin.

Also, Judaism had a tendency to rank order the Commandments, meaning that they considered some of the Commandments being more important to obey than others. James listed two of the Ten Commandments – adultery and murder. Adultery and murder relate to a person and point to the value of considering any person as their neighbor. Breaking either commandment is the same as breaking all of the Commandments.

Sin is sin and showing favoritism or partiality is a sin, therefore, Christians must not judge the poor versus the wealthy by discriminating. Those who know the truth through their relationship with CHRIST know that in CHRIST they are under the “law of freedom.” GOD through CHRIST had forgiven them and shown them mercy and they, in turn, must keep that in their minds when dealing with fellow humans. By the same judgment and mercy they show others, GOD will use to judge them.

Christians live under the “law of freedom” as such, they have been forgiven for a debt they cannot repay and have received mercy, grace and love from GOD, which they, in turn, need to extend it to others. With such freedom comes responsibility and accountability. Christians are accountable to GOD.  

JESUS addressed this in Matthew 7:1-5:

1 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Does this mean that Christians are to overlook situations that are going on around them? No, Christians are to hate the sin but love the sinner. They are to consider how, do they measure up according to GOD’S requirements. Yes, Christians are forgiven for their past, present and future sins but that does not give them a license to discriminate. Christians are a work in progress.

GOD looks at the heart and does not look at the outward appearance. When Christians are filled and led by the Holy Spirit, they are more apt to look at a fellow human through the eyes of GOD. GOD made this clear to Prophet Samuel when he was searching for a king to replace King Saul as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:6-7: (Eliab was the oldest son of Jesse, David’s eldest brother. Eliab was handsome, well built and looked kingly. Eliab in the eyes of the Prophet Samuel fit the criteria.)

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

Even those chosen by GOD to do HIS will, can be misled by their own bias. If they will listen to GOD, they will select correctly.

So many business people look for that certain look or pedigree but the question is can he/she do the job?

 JESUS gave us a parable which helps us to better understand the “law of freedom”, which we are to extend to others.

Let’s read Matthew 18:21-35:

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven. 23 For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his • slaves. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10, 000 talents was brought before him. 25 Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. 26 “At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’ 27 Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan. 28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 • denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ 29 “At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.”

With freedom comes responsibility. Our human nature must be brought under the control and authority of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is done through the process of sanctification. GOD is creating in HIS children a new mind and a new heart as they interact with HIM and journey through life.

Being a Christian is more than a label, it is a lifestyle. When we walk as the Holy Spirit leads us, we do not have to tell others that we are a Christian, they can see CHRIST revealed in our lives by our actions. When we show partiality or favoritism it sends the wrong message.

The “law of freedom” carries an awesome responsibility and can only be lived by the power, strength and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Blessings!!!