Playing Favorites James 2:1-7

Good morning from the Panhandle. I trust you had a great Lord's Day, we did here. I am starting a series out of Jude, yesterday I got all the way through verse 2, :-). This is the first time I have really studied this book and it looks like it will be a great study. But today in this blog we are looking at James 2:1-7. I must admit this morning when I went to pull up chapter 2 from my sermon notes I didn't have anything. I'm not sure what has happen to all my chapter 2 notes, so I found this sermon by Timothy Beougher and have based my study this morning off of it.

Elisa Tinsley, in USA Today, described how a Spokane, Washington bank lost one of its best customers, a construction company owner named John Barrier. John Barrier had just come from a construction site and his clothes were dirty. He went to the bank to cash a $100 check. When he tried to get his parking slip validated, the teller refused, saying he hadn’t conducted a transaction. “You have to make a deposit to get your parking slip validated,” she insisted. John Barrier told the teller he was a substantial depositor but she was obviously doubtful. He asked to see the manager, who also refused to validate the parking slip. The next day, John Barrier went back to the bank and withdrew a rather large sum of money, one million dollars to be exact.

I think you would agree that we live in a world that tends to judge people based on externals. Our culture says that your worth is determined by the kind of job you have, the kind of car you drive, the kind of house you live in, and the kind of clothes you wear. But the Bible tells us a person’s value is not determined by the amount of their valuables. James makes clear in our passage for today that while prejudice and favoritism may be commonplace in the world, they have no place in the church.

James 2:1

2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

1. The Prohibition of Favoritism (vs. 1).

Notice James’ reference to “our glorious Lord” He reminds us of the basis for our fellowship with one another. If God brought about our fellowship, we as believers should not break our relationships because of prejudice.

The term “favoritism” or “partiality” comes from a word that means “face.” Favoritism is judging others based on appearance, or in other words, at face value. Partiality, judging on the basis of appearance instead of on the basis of the heart, is directly contradictory to the character of God.

When we see a fellow believer in sin, we should care enough about him or her to approach them in love and point them back to God; that is judging with proper motives. The kind of judging James warns against is sin: judging with the wrong motive. In this case, we do not have the other person’s interests at heart, but our own bias and selfish interests.

James 2:3-4

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?

2. A Picture of Favoritism (vs. 2–4)

So that no one think that this is a sin that only others struggle with, James illustrates a

situation that each of us can immediately identify with. Two different people come to a worship

service, and they are judged solely on the basis of appearance.

In ancient times, it was a sign of great wealth and social aristocracy to wear many rings. The

culture of that day so valued rings that you could go to stores and rent a ring or two for a

special occasion just to impress others.

Notice the response of the church member, “Here’s a good seat for you.” Taking the rich man

down to the “chief seats” was an attempt to flatter him in hopes of getting something from him.

A second person enters, this time described as a poor man in shabby clothes. The church

member is also quick to direct this man, to make him stand or sit on the floor. This “church

member” or “usher” is communicating that this person is really not welcome.

I wonder if any of us secretly consider ourselves “above” others. Do we turn away from

someone of seeming “lesser importance” to seek the favor of someone “more important?”

James concludes his illustration in response to this behavior, “Have you not shown partiality

among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”

James 2:5-7

5 Listen, my dear brothers: 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 insulted 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 slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

3. The Presumption of Favoritism (vs. 5–7).

Favoritism is to believe that God thinks the same way we think, that God values the same things that we value.

First, James tells us that while we may think it is noble to show favoritism, God does not show favoritism on the basis of outward appearance; 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (Mark 12:13-14). All the ground at the foot of the cross is even.

The believers in James’ day needed to hear the message that to follow Christ Jesus means to judge on His standards, not on human standards. They needed to be reminded (and so do we) that God chooses the poor in the eyes of the world: 26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).

Is the presumption of favoritism all that matters in this life? If the rich really are in charge, then we would be wise to cater to their every whim. But if Christ Jesus is truly the King of kings, the Glorious Lord of the world (and He is), then He, not the rich, deserves our service, our allegiance, and our loyalty. The one who claims to be a follower of the glorious Lord Christ Jesus but who then shows favoritism is guilty of having a divided heart, a double mind.¹

Conclusion: Let’s search your heart for attitudes that don’t belong there, attitudes of favoritism or attitudes of prejudice. If you find them there, then repent of them. Ask God to take them away, and to replace them with attitudes of love and compassion. I wonder if people come to mind whom you have not treated properly. You need to resolve, with God’s help, to treat these people differently.

1. If God brought about our fellowship, we as believers should not break what?
2. Favoritism is judging others based on what?
3. Two different people come to a worship service, and they are judged solely on what?
4. Where did they seat the rich man? Where did they seat the poor man?
5. Does God think more highly of some people than others?
6. Is it outward appearances or inward person that God looks at?
7. Is it possible to continually show favoritism and serve God as you should?

1 Morgan, R. J. (2004). Nelson’s annual preacher’s sourcebook (2004 Edition, pp. 304–306). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.