Judging

Click here for the audio message of James 2:1-13

So far in the book of James, we have seen three tests of faith for the Christian. First we looked at how a Christian responds to trials. And we said that a true believer that is in tune with God will respond with joy and trusting obedience. Trials show us that we cannot do things on our own, we need to rely on God.

A trial can turn into a temptation for a Christian so we then looked at how a Christian responds to those temptations. God allows trials to strengthen us and He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle. God always provides a way out of our temptation, but we may not always choose it.

Last week we looked at the Christians reaction to the Word of God. When a true believer hears the Word that want to obey it and learn more of it. We said this isn’t just an intellectual knowledge, rather it is a heart desire to be closer to God.

This morning we look at another test of a Christian. That is of their partiality or favoritism. In particular, James mentions social or economic status.

At some point in our lives we have all showed favoritism to someone, so James gives us some of the results of doing so. He says favoritism brings about evil thoughts, dishonor, oppression, mercilessness, and sin.

We need to remember that God is impartial in His dealings with people. This is not something that we normally think about with God. So, we too need to be impartial in dealing with others. Christians are all equal with God and will one day be surrounded by His love for us.

We cannot show favoritism toward certain people. Jesus says in Matthew 22 to love your neighbor. Unfortunately, favoritism does happen too often among Christians and in the Church.

When someone new or different enters the church we as members of the body of Christ need to welcome that person in a way that is friendly and loving, but not pushy or weird.

I’ve been a stranger in churches where everyone comes up to greet you and ask all about you and it can be a little uncomfortable. I’ve also been in churches were no one comes to great you and that too is uncomfortable. So there needs to be a balance there.

In our society and again unfortunately in some churches, people with money or people that look rich seem to get better treatment. James saw it 2000 years ago and we still see it today. People want to be around other people with money for their own ego. It makes them feel important or maybe somehow they think they will personally benefit if they are around the rich people.

Now, there is nothing wrong with being rich and having money. The problem is the fact that often times the people with money forgot where the wealth came from in the first place and to whom it really belongs. Poor people tend to trust God to provide for them daily.

From a practical standpoint, it is foolish for the Church to ignore the poor. It was foolish in James’ day and it is foolish today as well. If our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples for Him, then wouldn’t we want to do this to as many people as possible?

Do you think there are more rich people or poor people in this world? Obviously there are many more poor people around the world. In James’ day the rich people were actually ruling over the poor and oppressed them.

People often times think that having money makes life easier. No doubt it does make certain aspects of life easier but it also makes things more difficult too. Rich people are really no better than poor people. God treats us all the same and we are all sinners in need of a Savior.

Our treatment of others needs to be guided by the royal law that James writes about. The command is to pursue meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well being of others as we would look after ourselves.

We are to truly love our neighbor. James goes on to tell us that treating others unequally is sin. Breaking just one of God’s laws is like breaking them all. It breaks the unity with Him and with others. Murdering someone and stealing are the same in God’s eyes even though our society treats them differently.

It is still sin. We are to love God and obey Him and we are to love others as we love ourselves. We must show mercy to others because God shows mercy to us. For those who show no mercy to others, God will show no mercy to them.

Remember the parable about the unmerciful slave in Matthew 18? The king showed mercy to one of his slaves for a debt that was owed to him. That slave in turn was owed money from another slave and he showed no mercy to him. When the king found out he had the first slave tortured. Verse 35 says, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Even in the Lord’s prayer we pray to God to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. We are to forgive others. We are to show mercy to others. We are to love others as ourselves.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of mercy triumphing over judgment. Because of the sacrifice that Christ made, I know I am forgiven for my sins and I should forgive others for their sins against me. You should do the same.

This week think about some of the people that maybe you try to avoid or maybe even look down on. Think about ways in which you can reach out to them with love and kindness. Make a conscious effort to love others, especially when they aren’t too loving to you.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly father, we thank you for our time in your word this morning. We thank you for your unending love and your impartiality in dealing with each and every one of us. Help us to do the same.

Purify our hearts and our minds so that we may see others as you see them. Help us to care for others and love them as you love them. Enable us to be the people that you would have us to be. We do this all for your glory and honor.

AMEN