James 2:1-13 gives a stark warning to us about the harm and sinfulness of favoritism. The passage begins with the words, "My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Christ?" The passage continues by discussing favoring the rich over the poor and the sinfulness of favoritism in breaking the command to "love your neighbor as yourself."
Unfortunately, we all fall pray to favoritism from time to time. Sometimes it is much easier for us to show our love to those we like instead of to all people. Because of this fact, James words have great value to us.
- James is a reminder that Scripture should not be a tool used to condemn others, but rather to condemn ourselves. We all need a reminder from time to time when we are not following God's way. If we are really listening to it, Scripture allows us the opportunity to turn back from our way and to instead journey back on God's path.
- The only way to correct our behavior is to first notice it. Examining ourselves is so important because it is how we grow. Passages like this one in James help us to stop and look at ourselves. In fact, that is why these passages were written in the first place. They help us ask, "am I doing that?" If we are, again we have the opportunity to turn back and follow a better way.
- We are called to live in a different way than the rest of the world. For the rest of the world, it is a seen as an advantage to show favor to rich in the hope that they will help us. Not so for the church. As James points out, we don't help because we are looking for earthly favors. Instead, we are called to help because it's what Jesus wants us to do, for the same love we show to others is what Jesus showed to us first.
Loving everyone and not showing partiality is not always an easy thing for us. James word's are so important because they help us re-examine ourselves so that we can move away from showing favoritism, and instead give our love to all.
This love is how we will grow our churches. It will bring in people who don't get to experience the kind of love that doesn't care if they are rich or poor. This love will also help us break the "cliquishness" that favoritism can, at times, bring and allow new people to come in and be raised up as leaders and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. To bring about this love, we need to be aware of where we fall short and ask God for the help to move away from favoritism and back to love.