The Book of James: 2:1-13

What is up Vertical! We continue our series on the book of James. Today we will be on James 2:1-13. Don’t forget to take notes- make it a habit in your life to take notes.

Today’s sermon hits close to home. As you guys know we consistently talk about building family so here is the main point for today- which comes straight from scripture:

Main Point: “Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism”- James 2:1

Funny enough, James takes time to point out something that we can all relate to. The feeling of being overlooked and rejected.

Story: Being rejected by a group at church.

It is really easy to expect people to include you and to never reject you but do not miss this. Today’s sermon is not about what have been done to you but how you will chose to treat others, starting today!

It is in our human nature to favor people based on how they look, their status, their potential to benefit you but God says that favoritism is not a quality of those who profess to believe in Christ.

Let go over this passage of Scripture- it is so practical and easy to understand. I pray that you will walk away ready to reject favoritism and make an effort to include others around you.

First we see a command:

A Command

James 2:1 “1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”

If you confess to be a believer, this is something that must not be in the midst of us.

Yet over and over again we have a tendency to prefer, to like, to include some people but intentionally exclude others.

As often, this is not hard to understand, we all have experience in being excluded from a group of people.

James knows this because He gives

An Illustration

James 2:2-4 “2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

Let’s suppose one of this guys walk in. How would you respond?

Favoritism is rooted in selfishness. We may give more attention to someone because of what they can do for us.

Do you love people based on what benefit they bring to you or based on the fact that they are image bearers of God?

I think all of us agree that this would be wrong- to create a special place for one but to excluded and humiliate another.

Yet we all have done this to someone- if you cannot think of a time you did this to someone, perhaps you are too blind in your own selfishness to noticed a time when you showed favoritism.

Again, I know all of us can think of a time, we were rejected, overlooked and excluded from the group. But today’s sermon is not about what have been done to you but how you will chose to treat others.

Will you be known as an individual who have favorites or someone who treats everyone around you the same?

Favoritism is not only about inclusion but is about treatment.

It is ok to treat people well- but treat everyone well.

James changes gears and brings up the fact that favoritism is a big deal.

A Big deal

James 2:5-11 “5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”

James goes on to remind us that God does not have the same value system that we do.

This is a direct quote to the sermon of the mount. Luke 6:20 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

This does not mean that all rich people will not inherit the kingdom, but it does place an emphasis that our economic status does not equate spiritual value.

MArk 12:41-44 “41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.””

In fact, James even points out that those who we think are more important sometimes are the ones that end up being entitle and oppressive.

But remember today’s sermon is not about what have been done to you but how you will chose to treat others.

We are called to love our neighbor. I heard someone say it this way but favoritism says “God, I will love my neighbor as long as I get to pick my neighborhood”

Finally James give us

A Motivation

James 2:12-13 “12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Simply stated we ought to reject favoritism because we never want to be on the receiving end of rejection

We all want and need mercy, yet we need to start by giving mercy.

How will you respond to this today? How will you build family? How will you include the person you have the least in common here?

One of the greatest realities of our faith is that the Gospel is the great equalizer- no matter who you are:

We are all Sinners.

We all need a savior.

We are all saved by Grace Alone through Christ Alone.

We have nothing, in the eyes of God, that makes us better or more important.

Therefore we must reject favoritism and strive to treat and include everyone in the same way, so that together we grow into