Show No Partiality

Show No Partiality. In many ways, the Christian life is totally at odds with the culture in which we live. None is more obvious than the idea of treating all as equals. In this devotional we will cover the idea of showing no difference between the rich and the poor.

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 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,3 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,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:1-4, ESV

Show No Partiality - Rich and Poor

James begins with an example. Do not show partiality between the rich and the poor. Is this a problem in our culture? Do we tend to show partiality to those who are rich? Do we tend to think that because one is rich, one is wise?

Yes! Of course we do! As a believer, we must pray that we will not be caught in this trap. We must be careful that we do not make the love of money our god as is commonplace in our culture.

In our churches today, do we show favor between a new family coming in dressed in expensive clothing versus a poor family dressed in second hand clothes? Yes we do. As a matter of fact, this is so predominant that the poor person often does not feel welcome in most churches.

Is it being extreme to call the love of money a god? This is what Christ says in Matthew 6, verse 24.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

You cannot serve money! That would be making money your god instead of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Show No Partiality - Prejudice

James continues to develop the thought of showing no partiality by expressing the truth of prejudice.

4 Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:4, ESV

We know we are prejudiced when we find ourselves making judgments about people based upon their wealth or lack of it. When we fall before God, do you think God looks at our outward appearance? No! God looks upon our heart.

Show No Partiality - Rich in Faith

As a matter of fact, it is more important to God that we be rich in faith and that is not determined by our personal wealth.

5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, 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?

James 2:5, ESV

Is it not true that some of the most Godly people we know who are rich in faith do not have great wealth? As a believer, the older we get, the less it means to have great wealth.

Wealth does not give us joy and peace. It is more likely to create great anxiety in our lives. David expressed a beautiful thought in Psalm 37.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psalm 37:25, KJV

Think about that promise. It is God who provides for us. He gives us everything we need to grow in Him and to become more like Christ. The result is a life filled with peace, joy, and hope. As we become older we no longer focus on gaining great wealth. If God is gracious to us, we focus on Christ and the world to come!

Show No Partiality - Oppression by the Rich

James presents one more reality of the nature of the rich of this world. Thinking that their riches make them better than other people, how do they treat the poor of this world?

6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

James 2:6-7, ESV

We find that what was true in New Testament Bible times is also true today. It is often the case that the rich oppress the poor. This is especially the case if the poor person is a believer. It is more and more evident that true believers are not politically correct. The values we hold dear are Biblical values. As our culture moves farther and farther away from those values, the believers will be oppressed, especially if they are poor.

Show No Partiality - Lessons for Us

What lessons can we take away from James 2, verses 1 through 7? Money is not evil, but the love of money is! It is not a sin to be wealthy, but it is a sin if we make that wealth our god. If we are overcome by the need to gain more and more, and, if that money makes us think that we are better than others, it certainly has become our god!

God says that we are to have no other gods before Him. The love of money is a god!

Let us seek, then, to love God more and more in our heart of hearts. Let us understand that Christ is all we need! We do not need money, power, or fame. We need Christ. Without Him we have nothing.

Go then today in the joy of Christ. Read and study His Word and pray that you will become more and more like Christ. He will give you eternal joy and peace!

If you are not a believer--if you have never come before the Lord Jesus Christ, confessed your sins to Him, and called out to Him to save you, then I encourage you to do it today. We cannot even stand before God no matter how good we think we are. God is perfect and we are not. Christ has bridged the gap between us and God. He, by dying on the cross, has paid the debt of our sins. Go to Christ. He will save you now! Today is the day of salvation!

God Bless You,

Linda