Playing Favorites
Notes
Transcript
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Playing Favorites
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW EASY IT IS TO PLAY FAVORITES?
IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME—IN SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, OUR SOCIETY AND EVEN WITHIN FAMILIES.
PERHAPS YOU REMEMBER A TIME WHEN SOMEONE WAS TREATED BETTER OR WORSE BECAUSE OF HOW THEY LOOKED, WHAT THEY WORE, OR WHO THEY KNEW.
FAVORITISM IS A SUBTLE BUT POWERFUL FORCE THAT CAN DIVIDE PEOPLE AND CREATE INJUSTICE.
PASTOR - DO YOU HAVE A STORY YOU CAN SHARE HERE THAT HIGHLIGHTS FAVORITISM? MAYBE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU PERSONALLY OR SOMETHING YOU OBSERVED HAPPENING DURING YOUR TIME IN MINISTRY.
TODAY, WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT A PASSAGE FROM THE BOOK OF JAMES THAT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THIS ISSUE.
JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS AND A LEADER IN THE EARLY CHURCH, GIVES US A STERN WARNING: AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, WE MUST NOT SHOW FAVORITISM.
WHY? BECAUSE FAVORITISM IS NOT JUST UNFAIR—IT GOES AGAINST THE VERY NATURE OF GOD.
IT WAS GOD, IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM, WHO CHOSE THE WEAK, THE LOWLY, AND THE POOR TO INHERIT HIS KINGDOM, TO SHARE HIS KINGDOM, AND TO FILL HIS CHURCH.
SO, IF WE ARE TO BE TRUE TO OUR FAITH, WE MUST LEARN TO SEE PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM, VALUING CHARACTER AND FAITH OVER OUTWARD APPEARANCE.
JAMES BEGINS THIS SECTION BY ADDRESSING A COMMON ISSUE IN THE EARLY CHURCH… FAVORITISM BASED ON OUTWARD APPEARANCE, PARTICULARLY WEALTH.
HE PAINTS A VIVID PICTURE: IMAGINE A WEALTHY MAN AND A POOR MAN ENTERING YOUR GATHERING.
THE WEALTHY MAN, DRESSED IN FINE CLOTHES AND WEARING A GOLD RING, IS GIVEN THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE, WHILE THE POOR MAN, DRESSED IN SHABBY CLOTHES, IS TOLD TO STAND IN A CORNER OR SIT ON THE FLOOR.
THIS SCENARIO MAY SEEM EXTREME, BUT IT’S NOT FAR FROM HOW WE SOMETIMES TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON WHAT WE SEE ON THE OUTSIDE.
WHETHER IT’S IN OUR CHURCHES, WORKPLACES, OR SOCIAL CIRCLES, IT’S EASY TO FAVOR THOSE WHO ARE WELL-OFF, INFLUENTIAL, OR ATTRACTIVE, WHILE OVERLOOKING OR DISMISSING THOSE WHO DON’T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH TO OFFER.
BUT JAMES IS CLEAR: THIS KIND OF FAVORITISM IS NOT JUST WRONG—IT’S A SIN.
HE CALLS IT OUT FOR WHAT IT IS—A JUDGMENT BASED ON PERSONAL PREFERENCE AND ASSUMPTION.
WHEN WE FAVOR THE RICH OVER THE POOR, WE’RE NOT REFLECTING THE HEART OF GOD.
INSTEAD, WE’RE ACTING OUT OF SELFISH MOTIVES, SEEKING TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THOSE WHO CAN OFFER US SOMETHING IN RETURN OR THOSE WHOM WE’D LIKE TO BE CLOSE TO.
BREAKING DOWN SOCIAL DIVISIONS
BREAKING DOWN SOCIAL DIVISIONS
IN THE PASSAGE FROM JAMES, WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH A CHALLENGING AND UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH.
THE EARLY CHURCH, MUCH LIKE OUR SOCIETY TODAY, WAS MARKED BY SOCIAL DIVISIONS. PEOPLE WERE JUDGED AND VALUED BASED ON THEIR OUTWARD APPEARANCE AND MATERIAL WEALTH.
THIS IS A REALITY THAT WE, TOO, ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH. WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THE RICH ARE OFTEN FAVORED OVER THE POOR, WHERE THE POWERFUL ARE GIVEN PREFERENCE OVER THE WEAK, AND WHERE THE INFLUENTIAL ARE OFTEN LISTENED TO MORE THAN THE MARGINALIZED.
THIS IS NOT HOW IT SHOULD BE AMONG BELIEVERS. AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, WE ARE CALLED TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
WE ARE CALLED TO SEE PEOPLE NOT AS THE WORLD SEES THEM, BUT AS GOD SEES THEM.
WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE AND VALUE ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIAL STATUS, THEIR WEALTH, OR THEIR INFLUENCE.
WE ARE CALLED TO BREAK DOWN THE SOCIAL DIVISIONS THAT THE WORLD HAS ESTABLISHED AND TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THEY DESERVE.
WE ARE ALL CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
THE FIRST ASPECT OF THIS IDEA THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THE SIN OF FAVORITISM.
JAMES MAKES IT CLEAR THAT FAVORITISM IS NOT JUST A SOCIAL MISTAKE; IT IS A SIN.
WHEN WE SHOW FAVORITISM, WE ARE NOT JUST BEING RUDE OR INSENSITIVE; WE ARE VIOLATING GOD'S COMMAND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES.
WE ARE PLACING OURSELVES IN THE POSITION OF JUDGE, DECIDING WHO IS WORTHY OF OUR ATTENTION AND RESPECT BASED ON WORLDLY STANDARDS.
THIS IS NOT OUR PLACE.
GOD ALONE IS THE JUDGE, AND HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE WORTHY OF LOVE AND RESPECT.
SECONDLY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAVORITISM.
JAMES POINTS OUT THAT IT IS OFTEN THE RICH AND POWERFUL WHO OPPRESS AND EXPLOIT THE POOR.
WHEN WE SHOW FAVORITISM TO THE RICH, WE ARE OFTEN SIDING WITH THE OPPRESSORS AGAINST THE OPPRESSED.
THIS IS NOT IN LINE WITH GOD'S HEART FOR JUSTICE AND MERCY.
GOD HAS A SPECIAL CONCERN FOR THE POOR AND THE MARGINALIZED, AND HE CALLS US TO SHARE IN THIS CONCERN.
WHEN WE SHOW FAVORITISM, WE ARE NOT JUST SINNING AGAINST OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS; WE ARE ALSO SINNING AGAINST GOD.
THIRDLY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FAITH AND ACTION.
JAMES MAKES IT CLEAR THAT FAITH WITHOUT DEEDS IS DEAD.
IF WE CLAIM TO HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST, BUT OUR ACTIONS DO NOT REFLECT THIS FAITH, THEN OUR FAITH IS WORTHLESS.
THIS IS A CHALLENGING MESSAGE, BUT IT IS A NECESSARY ONE.
OUR FAITH SHOULD NOT BE A PRIVATE MATTER THAT HAS NO IMPACT ON OUR ACTIONS.
RATHER, OUR FAITH SHOULD BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND EVERYTHING WE DO.
IT SHOULD SHAPE OUR ATTITUDES, OUR DECISIONS, AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
IT SHOULD LEAD US TO LOVE AND SERVE ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIAL STATUS.
FINALLY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF MERCY.
JAMES REMINDS US THAT JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY WILL BE SHOWN TO ANYONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN MERCIFUL.
THIS IS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOWING MERCY TO OTHERS.
MERCY IS NOT JUST ABOUT BEING NICE OR KIND. IT IS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ALL PEOPLE, AND TREATING THEM WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.
IT IS ABOUT SEEING PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM, AND LOVING THEM AS GOD LOVES THEM.
WHEN WE SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS, WE ARE NOT JUST DOING THEM A FAVOR; WE ARE ALSO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IN GOD'S EYES.
THE CALL TO BREAK DOWN SOCIAL DIVISIONS IS NOT AN OPTIONAL EXTRA FOR BELIEVERS. IT IS A CENTRAL PART OF OUR CALLING AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
IT IS A CHALLENGING CALL, BUT IT IS ALSO A REWARDING ONE. WHEN WE BREAK DOWN SOCIAL DIVISIONS, WE ARE NOT JUST MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE; WE ARE ALSO BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST, WHO BROKE DOWN THE ULTIMATE DIVISION BETWEEN GOD AND HUMANITY THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
LET US THEREFORE STRIVE TO BREAK DOWN SOCIAL DIVISIONS, NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH, BUT IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO EMPOWERS US TO LOVE AS CHRIST LOVED US.
BIBLICAL VIEW ON FAVORITISM
BIBLICAL VIEW ON FAVORITISM
IN THE SECOND CHAPTER OF JAMES, WE FIND A VIVID ILLUSTRATION OF FAVORITISM IN THE EARLY CHURCH.
For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
A MAN ADORNED IN GOLD AND FINE CLOTHES ENTERS A GATHERING, AND HE IS IMMEDIATELY GIVEN A PLACE OF HONOR.
MEANWHILE, A POOR MAN, DRESSED IN SHABBY ATTIRE, IS EITHER TOLD TO STAND OR TO SIT AT THE FEET OF THE OTHERS.
THIS IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF FAVORITISM, WHERE ONE PERSON IS GIVEN PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OVER ANOTHER BASED ON OUTWARD APPEARANCES.
THIS KIND OF FAVORITISM, JAMES TELLS US, IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST.
JESUS HIMSELF WAS OFTEN FOUND IN THE COMPANY OF TAX COLLECTORS, SINNERS, AND THE SOCIALLY OUTCAST.
HE DID NOT SHOW FAVORITISM, BUT TREATED EVERYONE WITH LOVE AND RESPECT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIAL STATUS OR OUTWARD APPEARANCE.
IN THIS WAY, JESUS SET AN EXAMPLE FOR US TO FOLLOW.
AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE CALLED TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH THE SAME LOVE AND RESPECT THAT JESUS SHOWED, WITHOUT SHOWING FAVORITISM.
JAMES ALSO REMINDS US THAT IT IS OFTEN THE RICH WHO EXPLOIT THE POOR AND DRAG THEM INTO COURT. YET, IT IS THE POOR WHO ARE RICH IN FAITH AND WHO WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THIS IS A REMINDER THAT OUR WORLDLY WEALTH AND STATUS DO NOT MATTER IN THE EYES OF GOD.
WHAT MATTERS IS OUR FAITH AND HOW WE TREAT OTHERS.
THE GREEK WORD FOR FAVORITISM USED IN THIS PASSAGE IS
PRAW-SEE-PAW-LUM-C-YA.
"PROSOPOLEMPSIA."
THIS WORD IS ALSO USED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, SUCH AS IN ROMANS 2:11
For there is no partiality with God.
PAUL AGAIN USES THIS WORD WHEN HE INSTRUCTS MASTERS TO TREAT THEIR SLAVES WELL, IN EPHESIANS 6:9
And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
IN THESE PASSAGES, THE WORD
PRAW-SEE-PAW-LUM-C-YA
"PROSOPOLEMPSIA"
IS USED TO CONVEY THE IDEA THAT GOD DOES NOT JUDGE US BASED ON OUR OUTWARD APPEARANCES OR SOCIAL STATUS, BUT ON OUR HEARTS AND OUR ACTIONS.
JAMES FURTHER EMPHASIZES THIS POINT BY REFERRING TO THE ROYAL LAW FOUND IN SCRIPTURE, "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
THIS LAW, GIVEN BY JESUS IN MATTHEW 22:39, IS THE SECOND GREATEST COMMANDMENT, SECOND ONLY TO LOVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, AND MIND. THIS COMMANDMENT CALLS US TO LOVE OTHERS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES, WITHOUT SHOWING FAVORITISM.
JAMES WARNS US THAT IF WE SHOW FAVORITISM, WE ARE SINNING AND ARE CONVICTED BY THE LAW AS LAWBREAKERS. THIS IS A SOBERING REMINDER THAT FAVORITISM IS NOT A MINOR OFFENSE, BUT A SERIOUS SIN IN THE EYES OF GOD.
AS BELIEVERS, WE MUST TREAT EVERYONE WITH LOVE AND RESPECT, WITHOUT SHOWING FAVORITISM.
BEHAVING AS BELIEVERS
BEHAVING AS BELIEVERS
IN THE REALM OF FAITH, WE ARE CALLED TO SEE PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM.
THIS IS A CALL TO A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE, A DIVINE VIEWPOINT THAT TRANSCENDS OUR HUMAN BIASES AND PREJUDICES.
IT IS A CALL TO SEE BEYOND THE SURFACE, BEYOND THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, AND INTO THE HEART OF EACH INDIVIDUAL.
SEEING PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM MEANS RECOGNIZING THE INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON.
IT MEANS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND THEREFORE, IS DESERVING OF RESPECT, LOVE, AND KINDNESS.
THIS IS A PERSPECTIVE THAT CHALLENGES OUR HUMAN TENDENCY TO JUDGE OTHERS BASED ON THEIR APPEARANCE, THEIR SOCIAL STATUS, OR THEIR WEALTH.
IT IS A PERSPECTIVE THAT CALLS US TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY, JUST AS GOD LOVES US.
THIS PERSPECTIVE IS NOT JUST ABOUT CHANGING OUR VIEWPOINT, BUT ALSO ABOUT CHANGING OUR BEHAVIOR.
IT IS ABOUT TREATING OTHERS WITH THE SAME LOVE AND RESPECT THAT WE WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED WITH.
IT IS ABOUT SHOWING KINDNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US, AND ABOUT STANDING UP FOR THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED OR OPPRESSED.
EVERY PERSON IS A UNIQUE CREATION, WITH THEIR OWN SET OF TALENTS, ABILITIES, AND POTENTIAL. WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM, WE BEGIN TO APPRECIATE THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, AND WE START TO TREAT THEM WITH THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY THEY DESERVE.
SEEING PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM ALSO MEANS SEEING THEIR NEEDS.
IT MEANS RECOGNIZING THE STRUGGLES AND HARDSHIPS THAT OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH, AND DOING OUR PART TO HELP THEM.
IT MEANS BEING COMPASSIONATE AND EMPATHETIC, AND REACHING OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.
SEEING PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM IS NOT JUST ABOUT RECOGNIZING THEIR NEEDS, IT'S ALSO ABOUT RESPONDING TO THOSE NEEDS.
IT'S ABOUT TAKING ACTION, ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. IT'S ABOUT BEING THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS IN THIS WORLD, AND SHOWING HIS LOVE TO THOSE AROUND US.
SO, LET US SEE PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM.
LET US STRIVE TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY, TO SHOW KINDNESS TO ALL, TO STAND UP FOR THE MARGINALIZED AND OPPRESSED, TO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF OTHERS, AND TO RESPOND TO THOSE NEEDS WITH COMPASSION AND EMPATHY.
LET THIS BE OUR MISSION, OUR PURPOSE, AND OUR CALLING AS BELIEVERS. LET THIS BE THE WAY WE LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
LET'S REMEMBER THE HEART OF WHAT JAMES IS TEACHING US.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CLOTHES WE WEAR, THE CARS WE DRIVE, OR THE SIZE OF OUR BANK ACCOUNTS.
IT'S ABOUT THE LOVE WE SHOW, THE KINDNESS WE EXTEND, AND THE FAITH WE LIVE OUT EACH AND EVERY DAY.
GOD'S LOVE DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE, AND NEITHER SHOULD OURS.
WE'RE CALLED TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE'RE CALLED TO ACT OUT OUR FAITH, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY FBC ….WITH A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES….DO NOT SHOW FAVORITISM
Lily of the Valleys - Song of Solomon 2:1 Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Revelation 5:5 Living Bread - John 6:51
Lord and My God - John 20:28
Lord and Savior - 2 Peter 1:11
Lord of the Dead and the Living - Rom 14:9
Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6 Propitiation for Our Sins - 1 John 2:2