Loving Others Without Favoritism - The Letter of James - James 2:8-13

1. The Command: Don't show favoritism

“My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the

faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.”‭‭

The Example: Rich vs Poor

“For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and

dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also

comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes

and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person,

“Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t

you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil

thoughts?”‭‭

The Reasons: God chose the poor & the

rich oppress

“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in

this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has

promised to those who love him? Yet you have dishonored the poor.

Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they

blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?”‭‭

1. More reasons for no partiality (v. 8-9)

2. Seriousness of partiality (v. 10,11)

3. Solution to partiality (v. 12,13)

1. More reasons for no partiality

A. Lord pleasing life (positive)

“Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love

your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.”‭‭

1. More reasons for no partiality

B. Partiality is a great sin (negative)

“If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by

the law as transgressors.”‭‭

2. Seriousness of partiality

“For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is

guilty of breaking it all. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also

said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder,

you are a lawbreaker.”‭‭

3. Solution to partiality

A. Live as the one who has been set free

“Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.”‭‭

3. Solution to partiality

B. Live as the one who has been shown mercy

“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.”‭

Questions:

- Who are those that are hard to love, those who are different, those

who are undeserving your love or maybe even your enemies?

- Why is it important to fight the sin of favoritism in your life?

- How does the reality of future judgement exhorts you in regards to

your speech and behavior towards others?

- Take time and remind yourself how much mercy you have been

shown by our Lord. Ask Jesus to teach you how to practice life of

sacrificial love in specific relationships.