James 2:1-13

DO NOT FAVOR THE RICH

James 2:1-13

James 2:1  My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? James 2:2  For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. James 2:3  If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"—well, James 2:4  doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

I go to a church where the pastor wears jeans. He does it in order to make people comfortable. We live in a farming community. There are wealthy people and there are poor people as there are in most communities. If everyone in a church you are visiting is dressed to the nines (old world for very dressed up) and you are in a T-shirt and jeans how would you feel? What if the whole church turned around and looked at you and started mumbling. Would you leave?

We as people tend to judge people on their looks, weight, skin color, clothes they wear. Mat_7:1  "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. I have found that people who you have judged in your mind seldom are what you think they are. I was an elder at a church years ago and a lady asked me to walk a friend walk thru the sinners prayers. I did but she had many intellectual  handicaps and I thought to that she doesn’t understand what she just said. How sad for me she change in many ways and I am sure that God was pleased with her but not me. I have always remembered that. Underestimate what God can do and he may show you to be a fool.

James 2:5  Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom He promised to those who love Him? Mat 5:3  "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him,  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. James 2:6  But you dishonor the poor! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Mat_19:24  I'll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" Mar_10:25  In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" Luk_18:25  In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" James 2:7  Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

These verse James 2: 5-7 do not say that all poor people go to heaven and all rich people go to hell. Life Application New Testament Commentary says: "Rich or poor, believers must obey God and love him. This could be called the heart of James’s message. If we really love God, both our faith in him and our obedience to him will be right. We will not belittle anyone with whom we share a common inheritance."The poor must repent and accept God as every Christian does. The Rich must do the same. The poor in our church tend to be worker bees. They have worked all their lives and that shows when you need help. The rich in our church may be worker bees also but they are how we support our church and it's missions. We just finished putting together a trailer house where a homeless family (now they have a home) now lives until we get them back on their feet. http://www.hiddenv.com/dodgeville-home/serve/cassies--transitional-house  Your salvation in God thru Jesus Christ is not only saying the words in the sinners prayer it is follow God's word and his will.

James 2:8  Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." James 2:9  But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. James 2:10  For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws. James 2:11  For the same God who said, "You must not commit adultery," also said, "You must not murder." So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. James 2:12  So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. James 2:13  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you.

Amen