James 1 – Faith That Works • Count trials as joy; they produce lasting faith (2-4) • Ask God for wisdom in faith (5-8) • Comfort for the poor: knowing God is greater (9) • Warning to the rich: riches pass away (10-11) • God rewards the person who endures trials (12) • Temptation to sin comes from within us (13-15) • All good gifts come from God (17-18) • Hasty words and anger do not please God (19-20) • The imparted word of God saves us (21) • We must hear and do the word of God (22-25) • Control your tongue & care for the helpless (26-27)

Doing the word of God (the “perfect law”) is to help the helpless. Some brothers were treating the rich well and the poor with contempt.

James 2:1-4 v. 1. Show no partiality – you’re treating the rich richly and the poor poorly. “favoritism” is a Greek word that was coined by the NT writers. It comes from a literal translation of Hebrew word, to “receive the face”. Means to make judgments about people based on their external appearance.

This is a direct contradiction to the central demand of God’s law. God’s law, especially interpreted and applied by Jesus is to love your neighbor.

“Don’t hold your faith with an attitude of favoritism” – discriminating is inconsistent with true faith in Christ.

“our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” James uses familiar titles for Jesus. Jesus is Lord: 1) head of the church, 2) ruler over all creation, 3) Lord of lords and King of Kings. Jesus is the Christ (1 Tim 1:15)- God’s anointed one, the chosen savior, fulfilled OT Jesus is the Lord of Glory (James 2:1) - Jesus possesses splendor and majesty Favoritism gives too much “glory” to people.

vv. 2-4. When they met together, they treated the rich with honor. They distinguished between people. Sized up the rich and poor by exteriors. James 2:5-7 vv. 5-6a. God has chosen to be merciful to the poor and make them rich in faith and to make them heirs of the kingdom. But you dishonor them.

26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

vv. 6b-7. These rich people are persecuting the Christian community. Why are you fawning over these people?

James 2:8-13 “Love each other as I have loved you” – John 15:12 Discrimination against the poor violates the demand of God to love your neighbor, the centerpiece of Jesus’ application of the law of God.

vv. 8-9 – we need to treat other people as we would want to be treated.

v. 10. Discrimination is a violation of God’s law, Jesus’ command to love.

v. 12. Jesus will return to reward only those who show compassion (Mt 25:31-46) John: “those who obey his commands live in him” (1 Jn 3:24) Paul: “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done in the body, good or bad “(2 Cor 5:10)

The mercy we show toward others shows our desire to obey the law of the kingdom and, therefore, a heart made right by the word of God’s grace.

The world is drawn to people who look successful, have money, dress nicely – and ignores the poor and struggling. But God honors the poor, the small, the struggling. It is often the poor and powerless who seek God. The rich tend to trust in their wealth and not seek after God.

“Favoritism is a subtle evil that deifies people, dethrones God, and devalues the worth and grace he gives every believer.” – John Perritt