Show No Partiality

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”  James 2:1

Evidently the believers in the early church were much like us, in that they tended to honor and favor wealthy individuals in their congregations. James commands them to reject such partiality and gives the reasons why.

The first reason is that God’s perspective is just the opposite. He favors the one of low rank. “Did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom...” (James 2:5).

Next we see that favoritism never impresses the rich - it always backfires. “Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?” (James 2:6). Showing favoritism is not practical.

Then, note that the favored ones are probably least deserving. In fact, “Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?” (James 2:7). In doing so, they dishonor the Lord, in whose name we gather.

Finally, such favoritism is a violation of “the royal law,” that summary statement of God’s plan for our relationships - “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8). If they law is kept, “you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin...For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:8-10).
   
Peter (previously a bigoted Jew) had learned this lesson, first in a vision, and then in his miraculous ministry to the Gentiles. “Opening his mouth, Peter said: ‘I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality’” (Acts 10:34).

As our text reveals, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and showing favoritism on any basis (not only riches, but color, education, ethnic, or national background, etc.) are not compatible.