Show No Favoritism

James 2:1-10

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 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? 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? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."

[1] We should not show favoritism over he/she that dresses in more expensive and fine clothing and ignore he/she that does not dress that way. We should keep in mind, that just because something looks "clean" on the inside, that doesn't necessarily mean they are God fearing and seek the Lord's word on the inside.

[2] We should show no favoritism with one race versus the other, if we say we love the Lord and follow him, then we should remember that it was him who created all races and we should therefore show no favoritism over one.

[3] We should show no favoritism between men and women, God created both and set each to have specific tasks, each one was uniquely created by God, one was not better than the other.

[4] We should show no favoritism between native born and foreigner, one is not better than the other because it was God who allowed each to step foot on the same land. It was God who willed their paths to cross. As Americans, we must always remember in fact that *we* are foreigners in this land, not only because our ancestors were not native to this country but also because this is a temporary land for those who believe in Christ.

[5] Show no partiality between children, if one excels in sport and the other in computers, one is not better than the other. God simply crafted each child differently, to have different interests and do well in a specific area.

How do we who show favoritism claim to be followers of Christ?
James 2:9-10
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."