Who are we trying to impress?

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?

James 2:1–7

Remember how James starts this letter? He calls himself a servant of God and Christ. Since then, he calls us his beloved brothers. We are equals in Christ Jesus, having received the favor of the Almighty through the atonement of Christ.

So, as brothers and sisters in God’s family, how could we judge each other by external appearances? Who are we trying to impress? James reminds us that God has blessed the poor with rich faith. Some of us, being free from worldly possessions, have leaned into Christ and learned the joy of steadfast faith. As C. S. Lewis says, “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only,” except the one with everything is more tempted to forget the one who gave it all to him.

Questions

• Do you know anyone with more wealth or influence than you? Do you treat them with more favor than other people?
• Do you know anyone whom you consider poor? Do you treat them with less respect than others?
• Do we avoid people of lower social standing because we don’t know how to deal with them? Is that the same partiality James forbids?
• Do you consider yourself rich in faith? What would you change about yourself to become this way?

Prayer

Almighty God, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven and the privilege of serving you as a humble servant. And yet, you call us brothers and sisters of Christ. What a glorious thought! Do what you will with us. Teach us humility and faithful love so that we may honor you at work and at home. Walk with us this week so that we may bear the fruit of the Spirit in everything we do.

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