4. How You Treat People Matters

Welcome to part four of our sermon series, All Day, Everyday…as we look at how to follow Jesus well in our every day lives. As our guide through this series, we are studying the New Testament book of James. A letter written by James, the half brother of Jesus…to Jewish Christians scattered abroad in various churches.

So, if you have a Bible or device, find James chapter two. If you are using the YouVersion Bible app, look for Events. Then look for Iowa City Church. All of the scriptures and sermon notes will be on your device.

There is a popular reality TV show that is garnering a lot of attention called, 'Real or Cake?'  The premise of the show is quite simple, top notch pastry chefs make incredible cake masterpieces which look like regular everyday objects; shoes, plants or doorknobs...use your imagination!  In many cases, the only way to tell the difference is to cut into it and take a bite! Do you want to give it a try?

Here’s the first picture. Real or cake?

Here’s the second picture. Real or cake?

Here’s the third picture. Real or cake?

It’s really hard to do, isn’t it? Really the only way to tell the two apart is to cut into it.

When I went to Israel, as we were approaching the Dead Sea to take a float. Our tour guide gave us some very important information. She said that if we had any jewelry on that was real gold, we need to take it off because the minerals in the Dead Sea would eat away the fake coating and reveal the fake metal. She went on to tell us a story about an engaged couple who were on the tour a few years previous. When she told that group about taking off their fake jewelry, this man told his fiancee that her engagement ring didn’t have real gold in it. She was so upset with him that they broke off the engagement. So floating in the Dead Sea was a helpful test for that relationship!

James, throughout this letter provides a series of tests to help us determine our level of faith or it’s authenticity. For example, in the beginning of chapter he talked about how hardships are tests to help us grow. At the end of chapter one he provides three litmus tests we can take to measure our faith: 1) Guarding what we say. 2) Taking care of widows and orphans. 3) Not looking like culture.

Guess what? Chapter two provides us with another test or measurement of our faith in Jesus. Are you ready for it? Here’s the test: How do you treat other people?

If we want to test the reality of our faith, we need to look no further than how we treat all people.

How do you think you would do? Pass? No pass? Let’s take a look at what James says, and I’ll let you be the judge.

James 2:1 NIV

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

This is an important statement because it identifies that the people James is writing to are Christians, they are devoted to Jesus as God and King. They are committed to following Jesus with their lives. He then follows that up with a command: If you are a follower of Jesus, don’t show favoritism. Favoritism is treating someone different because of…you have to fill in the blank. It could be a variety of things. In just a moment, James is going to give an example about rich and poor people. Maybe it’s ethnicity. Intellect. Maybe it’s their favorite sports team. It could be a variety of things. This issue for James is that followers of Jesus, who are living as Kingdom citizens should not show favoritism.

James gives an example of what this looks like.

James 2:2–4 NIV

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?

The word, “meeting” refers to a worship service. So, imagine an extremely poor person, as a famous wealthy person coming to our worship service. We honor and faun over the famous, wealthy person, but completely ignore the poor person. We have shown favoritism.

In a way I did this once. About 12 years ago, we had a number of people and families visit the church. A young family, a couple graduate school students, a middle aged family, and a poor looking older woman who was missing her front teeth. This was back when we had info cards for people to fill out and turn in. I remember getting cards from those folks and then beginning to to follow up, which usually consists of a phone call and email. Do you know the first person I contacted? The young family. Do you know the last person I tried to contact? The older woman, who looked poor and was missing her teeth. I was quickly bothered by my actions, and have been convicted of it ever since. Just because a person is affluent, influential or even attractive, it doesn’t mean they are more valuable it God’s sight.

As followers of Jesus, we are not to play the game of favoritism. He breaks down a few reasons why.

James 2:5–7 NIV

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?

In this first century culture, there was no such thing as a middle class. If there was, it was razor thin. Most people were either incredibly wealthy or dirt poor. James’ point is that poor people are closer to the Kingdom of God then wealthy people because poor people have greater faith in God because they have nothing. Plus, James points out that the trouble makers for Christians aren’t poor people, instead it’s the wealthy who have brought lawsuits, and disparaged the name of God…so stop fawning all over the wealthy people will neglecting poor people who in turn have the greater faith.

Now, maybe your feeling like this is some what of an issue, but ultimately it’s not a big deal. Yeah, maybe you show some favoritism here or there, but it’s not a big deal…and it’s hardly a good test of your faith. Well, James has a few thoughts for you about that.

James 2:8–11 NIV

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.

The royal law is referencing how Jesus represents the Old Testament Law. James quotes from Leviticus 19:18

Leviticus 19:18 NIV

18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

But, as we have already noted, Jesus is the completely and perfect fulfillment of the OT Law and he concurs by saying that his followers should, love their neighbors as themselves. Matthew 22:39

Matthew 22:39 NIV

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Here’s James’ point: Showing favoritism is a big deal because you’re not loving your neighbor as yourself…and to break the law makes your a lawbreaker. Which in turn means it’s just as bad as committing adultery or murdering someone.

As Christians, we are really good at justifying our sins or categorizing them based on severity. In our way of viewing sin, murder is much worse then showing favoritism. In the big picture, sin is sin and there is no difference between treating people poorly and murder. Let that sink in just a bit.

So, here is the test regarding your faith. If you want to measure where you are on your journey of following Jesus, answer this question: Do I treat everyone equally? Do I treat everyone fairly?

But I’m an overall good person. I go to church and I give money to the church, and I even give money to poor people. Great, but we are also command to not show favoritism.

James concludes with this striking thought.

James 2:12–13 (NIV)

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.

James asks the reader to imagine they are being judge for all of their behaviors, by Jesus right now. It’s kind of a scary thought isn’t it? We know what we have done and we want…mercy. Guess what? Faith in Jesus is our mercy. This is why James says that “mercy triumphs over judgment.” However, there is a catch. For those of us who don’t take the mercy that has been given to us and give mercy to others…we will be judge in the same way.

Did that get your attention? It definitely got mine! Jesus says something very similar in The Sermon on the Mount. Speaking on forgiveness he says:

Matthew 6:14–15 (NIV)

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

What’s Jesus saying? He’s teaching us that our Heavenly Father is rich in forgiveness to those who put their faith in him. But in receiving this amazing forgiveness, we are to live as people who freely as richly forgive others.

The same is true of mercy. We cast ourselves at the feet of Jesus pleading for his mercy. As recipients of this mercy, we need to likewise extend the same mercy to others.

Maybe, much like me you have been convicted by this simple yet exposing test of faith. Do you know how you turn things around so your faith grows? You go back to the source. By putting your faith in Jesus, you experienced an infinite measure of mercy. Why? Was it because you were rich or famous or successful? No, instead it was just the opposite. When you were poor in spirit, broken, lost and hurting…Jesus showed you mercy. All he asks is that we do the say to all people.

Since 2013, Christian Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz has been placing a particular sculpture depicting a homeless man sleeping on a bench in cities across the globe.

Pictures of The Homeless Jesus.

Now, I want you to look really close at the statue. Do you notice anything? Look in at the feet. Who is this homeless man? It’s Jesus. This statue is sometimes called “Homeless Jesus”. However, Schmalz named the statue “Matthew 25”

Why Matthew 25? It’s a parable of Judgement told by Jesus. Essentially, the Lord is condemning, seemingly good people because they didn’t take care of him when he was hungry, thirsty or in prison. So of course, these good people ask a simple question. Here is what they ask:

Matthew 25:44–46 NIV

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

“Whatever you do not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Let that sink in for a moment.

Now, write this down: Our faith in Jesus is best measured by how we treat others, in particular, the least and the lost.

Here are some next steps to consider:

If how you treat people is a measurement of your faith, how are you doing? Better or worse? If worse, take time this week to focus your prayer time on asking God to help you change.

Who is one person you are treating unfairly and how can you treat them fairly?

Have you experienced God’s mercy? If you have never made a decision to receive God’s mercy through Jesus, that is the best place to start.

Our faith in Jesus is best measured by how we treat others, in particular, the least and the lost.