James 2:1-9

Don’t Show Favoritism

James cautions the believers not to show favoritism to people that have outward appearances of wealth, power, or fame. James gives the example of a finely dressed man and a poorly dressed man that comes into the assembly and you offer the finely dressed man a better set than the poorly dressed man. He states that when you do this you are acting with evil motives.

The "evil thoughts" (or "evil motives") are not just a passing mistake; they are a way of thinking that is fundamentally opposed to the Christian faith. Here are the primary evil motives James is exposing:

1. Selfishness (The "What's in it for me?" motive)

This is the root of the problem. The person showing favoritism isn't genuinely trying to honor the rich person; they are trying to gain something for themselves.

They see the wealthy person as a resource.

They think, "If I treat this person well, maybe they will give a large donation, give me a job, or increase my social status."

They see the poor person as a drain—someone who has nothing to offer and might even cost them something. This turns people into objects to be used, not neighbors to be loved.

2. Adopting Worldly Values

The "evil thoughts" come from judging people by the world's standards (wealth, clothing, power) instead of God's standards.

The World's Standard: Your value is based on what you have or what you look like.

God's Standard: Your value is based on the fact that you are created in His image and loved by Him. By honoring the rich and dishonoring the poor, they were showing that their minds were "polluted by the world" (as James 1:27 warns against).

3. Contradicting God's Character

James argues that this way of thinking is evil because it is the exact opposite of how God operates.

God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11).

Acts 10:34 “Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,”

Romans 2:11 “For there is no partiality with God.”

In fact, James 2:5 points out that God often chooses "those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith." By showing partiality, they were not only acting like worldly judges, but they were acting unlike God.

4. Forgetting the Gospel (Hypocrisy)

The most "evil" part of their motive is its hypocrisy. They claim to hold "the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ" (James 2:1), who humbled himself and identified with the lowly, yet their actions prove they don't truly value what He values. They are acting as if their faith and their worldly, selfish judging can coexist, which James says is impossible.

In short, the "evil motives" are the selfish, worldly, and ungodly calculations a person makes when they decide that one person is more valuable than another based on their external appearance.

When we show favoritism as in church, we are doing the same thing the world does. We need to see everyone as God does. He does not show partiality. He sees everyone as created in His image that has fallen and in need of a Savior.

We should not show favoritism to someone who has accomplished success in the world. Sometimes we do this by putting them in positions of leadership, when they may not be spiritually mature. We just assume that since they were successful in the world that they will be successful in the church.

God Chooses the Poor To Be Rich In Faith

God makes a distinction that typically the poor exhibit more faith than the rich. The connotation is that because they are poor they have to exercise more faith in God for provision than the rich. The rich seem to be more self-sufficient than the poor materially speaking.

Here’s a breakdown of the reasoning behind that statement, based on James 2:5 and other related parts of the Bible.

1. The Core Issue: Dependence vs. Self-Sufficiency

This is the most important reason. Material poverty often forces a person to recognize their complete dependence on God for their daily needs.

The Poor Person's Posture: When you don't know where your next meal is coming from, you have no choice but to trust God. You have no "fortress in which to hide, except the two strong arms of God." This constant state of need can build a deep, genuine, moment-by-moment trust (faith) that someone who has every need met may never experience.

The Rich Person's Temptation: Wealth creates a powerful illusion of self-sufficiency. If you are sick, you trust in your money to get the best doctors. If you are hungry, you trust in your money to buy food. If you need security, you trust in your money to provide it. Money becomes a "god" that you rely on, which makes it incredibly difficult to feel a desperate need for the true God.

Jesus taught this same principle. It's not that money is evil, but that the love of it and the false security it provides are massive spiritual obstacles.

2. The Deceitfulness of Riches

Jesus, in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:22), warned that the "deceitfulness of wealth" is one of the things that can "choke the word, making it unfruitful." Wealth can deceive a person into:

Thinking they are in control.

Believing their value comes from their possessions.

Chasing after more wealth rather than after God.

A person who has little is often free from this specific deception and can see spiritual truth more clearly.

3. God's "Upside-Down" Kingdom

James is reminding his readers that God's value system is the opposite of the world's.

The world honors the powerful, the rich, and the beautiful.

God honors the humble, the lowly, and the "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3).

By choosing the poor of the world, God demonstrates that worldly status, power, and wealth mean nothing in His kingdom. He intentionally chooses what the world considers "foolish" and "weak" to shame the wise and the strong (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).

4. It's Not a Guarantee, But a Posture

It is crucial to understand that James is not saying:

All poor people are saved. A poor person can be just as proud, selfish, or faithless as a rich person.

All rich people are unsaved. The Bible includes many faithful and generous wealthy people (like Abraham, Lydia, or Philemon).

The key is not the amount in your bank account, but the posture of your heart. The "poor" who are "rich in faith" are those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and their total dependence on God. This is the "poverty of spirit" that Jesus called "blessed" in the Sermon on the Mount.

Love your Neighbor As Yourself

We should treat others the way we want to be treated. In what ways do we like to be treated.

Here are some of the most common ways we all want to be treated:

1. With Respect and Dignity

This is perhaps the most fundamental need.

To be heard: We want people to genuinely listen when we speak, not just wait for their turn to talk.

To be valued: We want to feel that our opinions, feelings, and presence matter.

To be treated politely: Simple courtesies like "please," "thank you," and respectful greetings make a significant difference.

2. With Kindness and Compassion

We all go through struggles, and we hope others will be gentle with us.

To be given the benefit of the doubt: When we make a mistake, we want people to assume we had good intentions rather than judging us harshly.

To receive help: If we are struggling (carrying something heavy, feeling overwhelmed, or just having a bad day), we hope someone will notice and offer help.

To be forgiven: We all fall short and hope for grace and forgiveness rather than having our mistakes held against us forever.

3. With Honesty and Trust

Trust is the foundation of all healthy relationships.

To be told the truth: We want people to be upfront and honest with us, even when the truth is difficult.

To be trusted: We want others to believe in our integrity and to feel they can rely on us.

To have our confidence kept: If we share something in private, we expect that it will be kept secret.

4. With Fairness and Equity

We have an innate sense of justice and want to be treated fairly.

To be treated equally: We don't want to be judged or treated differently based on our appearance, background, or status.

To not be taken advantage of: We expect a fair exchange in our work and relationships.

To have our boundaries respected: We want others to respect our personal space, our time, and our "no."

5. To Be Included and to Belong

We are social beings and have a deep need to feel part of a community.

To be invited: We want to be included in conversations, events, and groups.

To be welcomed: When we enter a new space, we hope to be greeted warmly.

To be appreciated: We want our efforts and positive qualities to be acknowledged and valued by others.

Applying the Golden Rule is a lifelong practice of empathy. It just requires asking one simple question before you act or speak: "Is this how I would want to be treated?"