Scripture Focus: James 2.1–13
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If 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,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
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Reflection: How To Be Terribly Un-Practical
By David Z. Blackwell
This summer, my son and I are reading C.S Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew. When Polly first meets the witch she struggles in vain to get the witch’s attention. Digory later feels the same way when the witch no longer needs him. Lewis writes of the witch, “I expect most witches are like that. They are not interested in things or people unless they can use them; they are terribly practical.”
It is not only fictional witches that treat others this way. Many real-life Christians can too. What Lewis called “practical” we might call “transactional.” If church members only treat well those who seem “useful”, then even an army of greeters at every door won’t make people feel welcome.
James wants Christians to give the same attention and honor to the poor person wearing “filthy old clothes” as they would someone rich, powerful, and well-dressed (James 2.2–4). Valuing people by what they have to offer is favoritism. People who do this are “judges with evil thoughts” and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers (James 2.4, 9).
James draws upon many themes found in the Gospel of Matthew. James refers to the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” as “the royal law” (James 2.8), which Jesus calls the second greatest command (Matthew 22.36–40).
Likewise, Jesus provides a similar warning in the Sermon on the Mount, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5.46–47).
James and Jesus encourage Christians to value others. James juxtaposes favoritism and mercy. Mercy is the opposite of favoritism. Mercy is loving our neighbors and avoiding favoritism by refusing to be transactional in our relationships. Jesus went further than this by calling us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5.44).
James and Jesus invite us to reflect…
Do I base my relationships on what others have to offer me or to get what I want? Do I go out of my way to treat others equally and fairly with dignity and respect? Do I love my enemies? What actions can you take to show genuine love to those around you? Especially those who aren’t “useful”?
Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. — Psalm 96.9
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Today’s Readings
Jeremiah 6 (Listen 5:10)
James 2 (Listen 3:32)
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