James 2:1-4
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Many years ago, while working with a group home for the developmentally disabled, I was given a memorable lesson by the director. Certainly, I wanted to treat the members of the group home like any other person attending church. This is good and is in keeping with today’s Bible reading. But, she surprised me when she said that to treat the members of the group home as fully human, I should remember that they are as prone to imperfection as anyone else! They can be petty, grouchy, and selfish – just like anyone else. To view them as angels, incapable of the full range of human behavior, is to view them as less than fully human. Obviously, that little lesson has stuck with me!
God views all humanity equally. We have differing abilities possessions, and income, but we are equal in this important sense: We are sinners in need of a Savior.
God has a gracious purpose in showing us this truth about ourselves. Romans 11:32 “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” When we see ourselves from the perspective of God’s Law, we see our sin and our need. We recognize our equality before God under His judgement and our common need. God’s purpose is just this: He plans to treat us equally. He plans to have mercy on us all.
Jesus came to save sinners. He offers the fruits of His redeeming death on the cross to all who confess their sins and trust in Him. Those who reject the truth of God’s Law that shows them their sin, are actually calling themselves better than all other people in the world. They will receive nothing from the Lord.
Today, clothing styles are very informal. It could actually be hard to tell if a person is rich or poor based solely on his or her clothing. Often those who are best dressed in a company, rank lower than the more shabbily dressed owner of the company. Informal clothing is a status symbol. We may have a hard time telling the difference between people, but God sees the heart.
The very poorest person, who in repentance turns to the Lord Jesus in faith, at that moment becomes the rich and an heir of eternal life. Since the Grace of God is given freely to all sinners through faith in Jesus, God calls upon us to remember His Grace when as we relate to one another. God loves to see His people treat one another with the same love, respect, and forgiveness that He has given to us in Jesus.
Let us pray,
Oh Lord you have shown me my need for your salvation. I stand equal to all sinners and confess that only through the gift of Jesus, given for the life of the world, do I have hope. Help me to love all others as you have loved me. In your name I pray, AMEN
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.