Have you ever been snubbed? Perhaps in high school you didn’t fit with the “in crowd”. Or at work you were never asked to join the others in your department for lunch. Whatever the situation, it is not pleasant. It is most hurtful if this occurs in church, where we would expect to feel welcomed. Unfortunately sometimes this is the case. Our New Testament reading comes from the Book of James, one of the earliest books written in the New Testament. Here he addresses the issue of favoritism towards the wealthy in church, so it’s been a problem right from the start.
Showing partiality in church should be unheard of, but it’s still seen today, as it was in the early church. James addresses this, telling us we should not judge others by wealth, position or appearance (vs 1-4). Every person, regardless of how they look, or their bank account, is someone Jesus died for. We should love all of our fellow believers (I John 4:20).
Why do people in some churches favor the rich over the poor? One apparent reason is that they dress better. Affluent people will attract a “nicer” group of people to the church. A homeless person will only repulse that “nice” set. Perhaps the wealthy can do something to help me. They are successful, winners in life, not losers. Of course, they can give bigger donations to the church. We are often partial to the rich because we mistakenly believe that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing. As we read through the whole of Scriptures, we see that God never promises us earthly rewards or riches. All throughout Scripture the poor are of special concern to Him.
Earthly riches do not indicate spiritual wealth. Those who love God and obey Him are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom (vs 5). Someone can have all of the money in the world, and still be lost, unsaved, and end up in hell, just as Jesus’s account of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). This does not mean the rich automatically are lost, or the poor automatically go to heaven. The poor usually are more aware of their powerlessness to save themselves. It is easier for them to acknowledge their need for salvation. A barrier for the rich is their pride. For the poor it is bitterness. God doesn’t want us to ignore the rich, but neither should we favor them. Treat everyone equally (vs 8-9). Let us be sure to welcome everyone to our church.
One key attribute in a believer’s life should be the mercy he shows others (vs 13). A person who shows no mercy and compassion for people in need demonstrates that he has never responded to the great mercy of God, and will receive strict judgment. If I want mercy for myself, I had better be a dispenser of mercy to others.
The remaining verses in our passage today, (vs 14-18), have caused some people confusion, thinking it contradicts other passages of Scripture. James’s teaching does not contradict Paul’s teachings of salvation by faith alone. Paul emphasises the purpose of faith - to bring salvation. James emphasises the result of faith - a changed life.
We show our love for God by our acts of love to others. Those acts, such as feeding and clothing the poor, do not earn us salvation, but they will show that we are saved. The good works we do does not earn our salvation, but are evidence of it. They are evidence that the Holy Spirit is present in us, and moulding us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Right actions are the natural by-products of true faith. A genuine Christian will have a changed life.
When someone claims to have faith, but their actions or lifestyle belie this, what they may have is intellectual consent, agreeing with a set of Christian teachings, but that’s it. That is incomplete faith. True faith changes our conduct, as well as our thoughts. If our lives remain the same, unchanged, we don’t truly believe the truths we claim to believe.
Faith without good deeds doesn’t do anybody any good. It is useless. True faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. True faith involves a commitment of our whole self to God.
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