Surviving While Scattered: Consequences of Showing Partiality (James 2:1-13 Bible Study)
We as a society are very clique driven. From high school to your job, or even the people we as a society look up to, clicks are ever present. They're always seems to be some special group that we just can't make our way into no matter how hard we try. And, if we're honest, there probably are people who want to be in our own little click as well. We all seem to at times show favor to those we desire to spend time with for no other reason than what they can offer us with. Is this something I am constantly guilty of doing? No. But have I done it in the past? I am sure of it. But why do we do this?
Perhaps they are attractive. Perhaps they have some power. Maybe they have money. ("Everyone is a friend to him that gives gifts" Proverbs 19:6) Whatever the reason, we tend to lift up these people so much that we actually pull others down in the process. We may find ourselves at time giving excessive grace or compromising on our convictions with one person while showing hostility and excessively withholding grace from another. As we survive in this Cutthroat, hostile, click-driven world, we as God's people should work on not showing favoritism or partiality to the best of our ability. Why? There are consequences. In fact, I have identified 3 in our text. Here are the consequences of showing favoritism / partiality:
It undermines God
James 2:1-7
My brothers, 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? 5 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? 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?
This scenario we see highlighted in these verses is just another confirmation that the Bible is absolutely timeless. The same types of scenarios are played out in this world daily, in a religious and secular context alike. Sometimes we are simply too quick to show partiality and raise one person above another. We need to stop viewing people by externals such as they're clothing, attractiveness, status, possessions, etc. Also, we need to stop viewing people only in the light of their sins. All people, regardless of their external qualities or their sinful decisions, are made in the very image of our God.
As we hold to our faith in Jesus, we shouldn't show favoritism. We shouldn't hold one person unreasonably higher than another. Now, we don't need to affirm or condone a person’s sin, nor do we need to denounce someone who is beautiful and well off, but only interacting with these people based off of these qualities isn't Christlike. We must understand there exists a person deep down underneath that shares the one attribute we all do: They are a fellow image bearer of God.
Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Notice how Jesus saw this interaction much differently than those around Him. All they saw was an extremely sinful woman who deserved to be separated from them. Nobody wanted this woman to be near them, but Jesus saw her heart and knew they was more going on in this woman's life than what immediately meets the eye. Obviously Jesus knew better, and here we are still talking about this interaction today. To our dismay at times, God will often use the people we least expect. When we choose to write someone off and think of ourselves or others as better/more worth our time and energy than another, we are undermining God. We know that if God chooses to work on a person's life we shouldn't get in the way of that. He sees things differently than we do. (1 Samuel 16:6-8) number
2. It breaks the law
James 2:8-11
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
When we show favoritism we are not fulfilling the royal law. When we treat one person lower than another, we are not loving our neighbor as ourself. Just like the act of murder or adultery, when we break the Royal law we are guilty and condemned. In fact, when we fail even in one area we become guilty of all. There is no partial obedience! Yet it is baffling that some Christians take such an extreme stance on the law, even claiming people must keep some of the laws that no longer apply to us today . And yet, these same people often fail to keep the Royal law. But is the royal law really that important? Jesus seems to think so.
In the words of Jesus the entire law can be highlighted in a simple and to the point way, by simply referencing the Royal law. (Matthew 22:34-40)
3. It's hypocritical
James 2:12-13
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
When a person gets saved they are no longer under the weight and bondage of sin. We have been raised from death unto life, and that sin that once condemned us has been removed from us. However, our relationship to the law still must be looked at properly. Some teach the law no longer matters, and certainly there are aspects of the law that no longer apply to us today, but there are still aspects that very much do apply today. For instance, murder was wrong far before the law was given in the time of Moses and Genesis will clearly support that. Some things are simply wrong, no matter what. God’s moral law stands and always will.
So what changes in our lives? Well first off, sin no longer points its finger at us. Sin no longer wipes our face in our transgressions and points out our destination in hell. The sacrifice of Jesus has rescued us from that! What is different now is the fact that we are actually spiritually equipped to keep the law and follow after God. We have the Holy Spirit which helps us in this regard. (And helps us in many other ways as well). Does this mean that now we are perfect? Of course not, we still live in our sinful flesh. However, now instead of being a slave to our sin we stand a fighting chance to overcome it. Now because the Glorious gospel has touched and transformed our lives we now are judged under the law of Liberty. We have been given the means to obey God and He expects us to (Epheisans 2:8-10) This includes practicing the Royal law in our day-to-day lives.
Showing partiality is a failure on our part. When we don't love people or treat them right we certainly are not treating them how we want to be treated. This is hypocritical, plain and simple. When we fail to, as a text says, show mercy to another, it is certain God sees this and will keep that in mind when judging us and evaluating our daily performance. Scary! It's hypocritical of us to not extend mercy to others while at the same time expect it from God. We want others to treat us well and we should focus on treating them well also.
Remember that showing favoritism undermines God, breaks the law, and exposes our hypocrisy. As the church of God remains scattered across the globe awaiting His return, let’s behave in a way that brings Him glory. Let's work on not showing partiality.
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