James 2:1-4 (NKJV)
 |
| Richard Gunther http://www.christart.com/ |
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly
a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor
man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine
clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor
man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown
partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
The Book of Acts says, God is no respecter of persons (Acts
10:34) and his impartiality, James says should be reflected in the gatherings
of his people.
The illustration James gave was probably very much evident
back in the first century church. It may or it may not be this obvious today,
especially here in the U.S., where most churches are probably made up of
members who generally have the same background and social status.
But definitely it was very evident at that time and today in
other countries where the gap between the rich and the poor is enormous and in
places where generally there is no middle class.
As Sunday Team members who should be mindful that everybody
coming in through those doors are wanting some thing, are seeking the truth,
are looking for hope, are seeking out the light, are searching for God, a
miracle, anything.
The hardest part is over, they made it to the house of God.
Our responsibility is to love them as Jesus would.
In one of our previous team meeting one of you said that we
shouldn’t discriminate. And yes, I remember that because we were talking about
a homeless person who comes into our services, and unfortunately sometimes he
is disruptive, especially if he is under the influence of something.
We do our very best to make him very much welcome here, we
let him sit wherever he wants to. And normally he sits in a prominent place. We
allow him the liberty to express himself like everyone else, but only up to the
extent of not disrupting the service and offending anybody.
As I’ve said we strive to treat everyone the same way, yes
just like how Jesus would. Of course a few people we have to deal with but
generally we let the spirit of God guide us in all our dealings, showing God
working through us and manifesting his love, his joy, his peace, his forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians
5:22-23.
This is the lesson I
prepared as I led our Sunday Service Team Meeting, March 22, 2015
James 2:1-4 (in NIV)
Favoritism Forbidden
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord
Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting
wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also
comes in. 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,” have you not discriminated among yourselves
and become judges with evil thoughts?
James 2:1-4 (in the MSG)
The Royal Rule of Love
My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you
live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church
wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right
after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best
seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit
here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that
you are judges who can’t be trusted?
