Bible Study -James(2) - Faith on Display in Your Relationships -James 2:1-13 - September 11, 2022

 

Bible Study – James (2) – Faith on Display in Your Relationships -September 11, 2022

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled, “James: Living Out Your Faith.”

Our focus scripture is James 2:1-13:

Don’t play favorites.

Let’s read James 2:1-4:

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

The statement “and sisters” in verse 1 was not in the original but in context the original language included women.

The statement “do not show favoritism” is more direct, “stop showing favoritism.” James was implying that he had observed some in their congregation showing favoritism.

In the Greek, there are two words used to express favoritism which translate, “to receive or lift up a face.” The implication is judging a person based on personal appearance, while at the same time we hold onto our “faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ,” not based upon outward appearance. In essence, James implied, pause and think about what you are doing when you show favoritism or discriminate. The question is, “How do you measure up when JESUS looks in your heart, especially, when you judge other based upon their outward appearance. When JESUS looks within our hearts, how do we measure up?

In case James’ readers didn’t get it, James used a graphic example that resonates with most all people.

² For if someone comes into your meeting (synagogue, church, meeting house)  wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, ³ if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” ⁴ haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

The wealth of the one wearing a gold ring and wearing fine clothes sends a message that person is wealthy. That is not always the case because people can fake it. The other side of the coin is the person who looks poor can also can be faking but generally not. Filthy clothes and unkept appearance sends a message of need.

When we see these two people, how do we respond to them? The bottom line is, in general, all meeting houses need funds to operate. GOD calls those with means to give to GOD’S work through the church and in many ways. But we have to be careful not to depend on the resources of the wealthy and, in essence, neglect seeking GOD’S provisions.

In James’ example, James had likely observed favoritism in their congregation regarding how congregants had responded to the rich person and the poor person – “³ if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” ⁴ haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” At least James likely noticed a person in the congregation asking the poor person to sit next to their footstool. Special treatment should not be shown to anyone who is seeking a walk with JESUS, whether rich or poor.

⁴ haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

There is only one Judge and that is GOD. If a person wants to escape judgment, then accept JESUS as his or her Savior. JESUS was teaching in John 5:24:

²⁴ “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

Let’s read James 2:5-7:

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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 have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? ⁷ Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?

James wanted to make a specific point, “listen” or pay special attention to what I am writing next. I have a very important question I want you to think about and respond to. Again, “and sisters” was not in the original text but implied.

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?

In the beatitudes JESUS taught in Luke 6:20:

Then looking up at his disciples, he said: Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours.

Why are the poor rich in their relationship with GOD? They have to depend upon GOD to supply their needs and as HE does, it builds their faith in GOD each day. JESUS taught HIS disciples, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Often, when we are sufficient, we fail to acknowledge GOD as the provider for all of our needs.

Then James reminded his readers what the wealthy do to those with less wealth – “Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? ⁷ Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?”

Oppress means to press you down or rule over you. Satan wants to oppress people, especially Christians. James implies that the rich can be bullies and overpower the poor economically and legally.

Blaspheme means to speak arrogantly. It represented an attack on their identity as a Christian. Yet, when a rich person came into the church some congregants catered to them. Apparently, James had made this observation. He was not saying to shun anyone but cautioning them to be careful that they didn’t discriminate. All people are sinners saved by GOD’S grace through faith in JESUS.

Copied from page 35 of the Leader Guide for Senior Adults, Fall, 2022 edition: “To summarize, the rich oppressed the community of believers, hauled them into court, and publicly blasphemed the name of JESUS. James’s readers honored the very one’s who oppressed and took advantage of GOD’S people, and in doing so, they practiced a reprehensible favoritism that ruined the reputation of the church. Any form of favoritism leads to cliques and divisions within the fellowship, and it discounts GOD’S desire to elevate all believers in the life of the church.”

Let’s read James 2:8-13:

⁸ Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself,^[a] you are doing well. ⁹ If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. ¹¹ For he who said, Do not commit adultery,^[b] also said, Do not murder.^[c] So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. ¹³ For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James writes the “royal law.”

⁸ Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself,^[a] you are doing well. 

What is the royal law? We read in Leviticus 19:18, “¹⁸ Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”

However, “⁹ If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. ¹¹ For he who said, Do not commit adultery,^[b] also said, Do not murder.^[c] So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.”

Showing favoritism is a sin in the same category as “adultery” and “murder.” GOD gave us the commandments as a guide for our lives and they are intended to bless us and help us maintain a right relationship with GOD. Just know that with every commandment there is also the spirit of the commandment. When we understand and practice the spirit of the commandments, then we please GOD and develop a deeper relationship with HIM through CHRIST. Therefore, “¹² Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. ¹³ For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

JESUS was teaching as recorded in Matthew 7:1-5, “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. ² For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. ³ Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.”

We are all sinners saved by GOD’S grace through our faith in JESUS.

Since we who have placed our faith in JESUS are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family and have received GOD’S mercy and grace, we in turn must show mercy and grace to others. GOD looks at the heart of a person and not on his or her outward appearance or wealth he or she has accumulated. We all come to the foot of the cross and receive mercy when we place our faith in JESUS. Why JESUS? It is because faith in JESUS is the only way for any person to be born-again in his or her spirit and receive eternal life.

This week Queen Elizabeth went to Heaven. Her being queen did not give her a special entry into Heaven. She had to have asked JESUS to come into her heart and experience the miracle of Spiritual birth to enter Heaven where GOD and JESUS reside.

We all must come to JESUS by the way of the cross through faith in JESUS. Have you asked JESUS to come into your heart? If not, why not? Now is the moment of salvation. Ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life believing that JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for all of your sins. If you did, then thank HIM for coming into your life and giving you eternal life. You are now a son or daughter of GOD though faith in JESUS. JESUS welcomes all who come by faith and the Holy Spirit now indwells you.

How do we respond to those who are apparently wealthy versus those who may have less material things? All people, regardless of their social or material status, are either bound for Heaven or Hell. We who know the truth of the Gospel are wealthy beyond measure and GOD calls each of us to share that wealth with others as we are led by the indwelling Holy Spirit. We must not let our social status hold us back from telling others about JESUS. We, who know JESUS as our Savior, are wealthy beyond measure.

Rejoice!!! And again Rejoice!!!

Blessings!!!