Transcript

Hesiod was a Greek poet who lived about 700 years before Christ. In his work entitled “Works and Days,” Hesiod wrote, “Love those who love you, and help those who help you. Give to those who give to you, never to those who do not.”[1]

Frankly, that is not hard to do—that is human nature. In fact, that is pretty much just the way things work in this fallen world.

But here is something to think about. Jesus was just as kind to the Samaritan woman at the well as he was to Nicodemus, the respected religious leader of Israel. And Jesus was just as gracious to a blind beggar named Bartimaeus as he was to a rich young ruler.  

There was no partiality in the heart of Jesus.

As we set sail back into the book of James, the author is going to tackle this very subject in chapter 2. In fact, he is going to clearly condemn partiality as sinful. He delivers a strong prohibition of partiality here in verse 1: “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” Essentially, he’s saying, “Follow the example of Jesus.”

James uses an interesting word here that is translated “partiality.” It is a compound word that means, “the receiving of face.” It came to refer to attention given to people based on their face—how attractive they were. Over time it developed into the idea of giving someone favor based on their social status, their education, the color of their skin, and their home country.[2]

Beloved, the sins of partiality and prejudice are as old as the human race.

James follows this prohibition of partiality with an illustration of partiality:

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (verses 2-4)

James presents a hypothetical example here. A man shows up at the church’s gathering wearing a new suit and a gold ring. And by the way, the word literally means “gold-fingered.” This is not just one ring. Seneca, the Roman philosopher, wrote back in the first century that wealthy men adorned their fingers with rings on every joint.[3] They were showing off their wealth.

A poor man enters the assembly about the same time, and James writes that he is in “shabby clothing.” The word could be translated “filthy.” James describes him as we might describe a homeless person who has not had a bath in months.

So, what happens next? James says the rich man gets the best seat in the house, while the poor man is told to either stand in the back or sit on the floor. Imagine, such a demonstration of partiality in the worship service.

Now with that, James presents some arguments against partiality. First, partiality is contrary to the gospel. Notice what he writes in verse 5:

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

James is not shutting the door on the wealthy; he is simply emphasizing that the gospel of Christ is available to poor people as well. Nobody is beyond the invitation of the gospel.

Second, James argues that partiality does not make any sense. He writes, “Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?” (verse 6). He is saying, “You are falling all over yourselves to welcome a rich person on Sunday who just might be the same person who will drag you into court on Monday.”

Third, James reminds the believers here in verse 7 that if they are impressed with someone’s riches rather than the person’s relationship with Christ, they just might be making friends with someone who will later blaspheme God and discredit the gospel.

Again, James is not saying rich people should be despised but that they are simply to be treated like everybody else. We are to show everyone that we’re governed by the law of love: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (verse 8).

If you are tempted to think, Everybody is prejudiced in some way; it’s no big deal, well, it is a big deal to God. James clearly writes here in verse 9, “If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

Beloved, partiality and prejudice are not social problems; they are not skin problems; they are sin problems.

How do we avoid such sin? James tells us how. He now delivers a solution to partiality, writing, “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty” (verse 12). There is the solution to all kinds of discrimination. Let me paraphrase what James writes here: “Do not forget that one day you will give an account to God for how you spoke and acted toward those who were different from you.”

So, keep that in mind, and demonstrate love toward others, knowing the “law of liberty” is the standard by which you will be judged.

James switches from the “law of love” to the “law of liberty,” which is an expression he used back in 1:25 in reference to the Word of God. James is saying that when we refuse to be prejudiced and partial toward others, our actions and our words are going to conform to the Word of God.

I remember reading the account of something that happened in a church near a university. A young woman had been serving in the college ministry in her home church there, reaching college students for Christ. She had often witnessed to a student named Bill, a brilliant young man whose hair was always messy. She had never seen him wearing shoes; he was always barefoot and in his favorite pair of jeans. One day, to her surprise, Bill showed up on Sunday morning. The service had already started, and the people were singing a hymn when he just sauntered in wearing his jeans, a T-shirt, and, of course, no shoes on his feet.

People noticed him and were immediately uncomfortable, but no one said anything. Bill began walking down the aisle looking for a seat, but the sanctuary was crowded that morning. This young woman, who had witnessed to him watched as he slowly walked all the way down to the front. When he realized there were no seats, he just sat down on the carpet, in the middle of the aisle. For the most part, people stopped singing. They were whispering to each other about this visitor who obviously did not belong; he dared to come to church barefoot! The tension was so thick you could slice it.

Suddenly, one of the well-respected, well-dressed older men began walking down the aisle toward Bill. Everyone thought, Well, you can’t blame him for what he is going to do. This young man doesn’t belong here like that. As the elderly man got closer, all the people held their breath. To the surprise of everyone, when he finally reached Bill, with some difficulty he lowered himself and sat down next to him; he crossed his legs like Bill did, smiled, and then shared his hymnal with him.

Perhaps more than ever, true love was demonstrated, and true worship took place—there on the floor, in the middle of that aisle.

James would say here, “Now that is the way to demonstrate the spirit, the attitude, the love of Christ. He came down to where we were and demonstrated to us love in action.”

Let us demonstrate that kind of love toward others today.