GETTING STARTED
I love to judge people; it makes me feel superior to them. OOPS! Did I just say that out loud?
I’m great at pointing out others’ shortcomings, thinking my views are superior, and believing I’m more important than others. But I rarely seem to compare myself to those who are superior to me. I know you’re thinking, “This guy has major issues.” Yep, I do. Sadly, I see myself and recognize my heart attitude in today’s passage where James tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. He learned that from Jesus.
- In what ways do you look down on others?
READ THE WORD: JAMES 2:1-13 (ESV)
2:1 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?
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 accountable for 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. 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.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- How did James define partiality (vs. 4)?
- James gave the example of Christians showing preference to those who were rich instead of honoring those who were poor (vss. 1-7). How are you guilty of showing partiality?
- Why did James tell us not to show partiality (vss. 4, 8-11)? Instead, how should we act (vss. 12-13)?
- Who is God asking you to love without showing partiality? What does it look like for you to love this neighbor as yourself?
RESPOND TO GOD
Rather than being judgmental, thinking about our own needs, comparing ourselves to others, or feeling superior, we are told to love others as ourselves. WOW, what a challenge! We honestly cannot do that on our own. We need Jesus to work in our hearts and to change us from the inside out, so that we can become more like him. Jesus’ love flowing through us is our only hope in loving others as we love ourselves. He loved us above his own needs; he died on the cross instead of saving his own life. I love that Jesus never asks us to do something that he was not willing to do. Knowing this makes James’ final statement even more powerful: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
- Ask the Lord to help you love your neighbor as yourself.
- Look for ways to show mercy over judgment today.