“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism”. James 2:1 NIV
“Don’t ever attempt, my brothers, to combine snobbery with faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ!” James 2:1 JB Phillips Translation
“My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith”. James 2:1 The Message
At first glance this seems to be a straightforward verse and simple instruction. Yet I find that it is almost impossible for believers to accomplish in everyday life.
Many believers will tell you that they treat everyone the same and do not show favoritism. Yet their daily conversation, body language, and your social media posts show just the opposite.
You must go back before favoritism to labeling. This is where the root of the problem begins.
Everywhere you go there are labels put on people. Homeless, Democrat or Republican, Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist, Liberal, Conservative, Wealthy, Poor, Immigrant, or the worse is Illegal Immigrant, Gay, Lesbian, or Trans. These are just a few of the labels that we put on people.
The Danger of labels is not that you are describing the individual based upon a habit or color of skin or a lifestyle. The problem lies in that when you label a person you immediately start to treat them differently. Labels function as tools to belittle, isolate, or control opponents rather than to love them.
One of the most recent examples of this is how we drew lines between those that received a vaccine for covid and those that did not get a vaccine. Both groups treated the other group with disdain and condemnation.
Religions do this every day. You do not worship like I believe you should and therefore you are lost. Politics do this to a very harmful degree. You did not vote the correct way and therefore you are mistaken. Democrats and Republicans both think the other person is worthless.
The news programs you watch do this on every broadcast. Social media gives a venue for you to post what is right and wrong with people and the way they behave.
“So God created man in his own image”. Genesis 1:27 KJV
A believer should only ask one question, “how does God see this individual”? Ask Jesus to let you see a person through His eyes.
The verse in James 2:1 is telling us to always see everyone through the eyes of Jesus.
“For God does not show favoritism”. Romans 2:11 NIV
Remember Jesus sees the heart and we only see the outside. Ask Jesus today to let you see that person through His eyes. Then start to treat that person with the same Love that Jesus shows you.
Jesus did not wait for you to become loveable before He loved you.
Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.
Prayers and Love for all.
Larry
Unbolt The Door To Your Heart 