Kevin Taylor's Bible Study
Title:
The Book Of James, Part Three
by Kevin Taylor
God bless all of you.
This week we will start our study of James
chapter two, and be looking at the first 13 verses. The overall theme of
these verses is clear. Snobbery and prejudices are sin! Rather than talking
about the bible lets have a look at what it actually says.
James Chapter
2 v 1-13 my brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t
show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring
and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. if you
show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say “Here is
a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit
an the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and
become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: has God not
chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in the faith
and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have
insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not
the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are
slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep
the royal law found in scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you
are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted
by the law as a law-breaker. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles
at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do
not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery
but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those
who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment
without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not judged mercifully. Mercy
triumphs over judgment!
This piece of scripture amazes me. It was written nearly two thousand years
ago, but it is super modern in the feel, and that is because the bible is
the most modern book in the world. Not only does it tell of things past,
it also tells of things to come. And oh, you wouldn’t show partiality to
a better-dressed person would you? Are you sure? It’s an easy trap to fall
into; it’s the way of the world. James is not teaching us to be disrespectful,
as we are taught elsewhere in the bible to ‘honor our parents and show
respect to those who have authority over us’ so it is clear that James is
teaching against discriminating against someone because of their social
status, or their appearance or anything else that the world considers to
be ‘socially un-cool.’ Take a look at this next piece of scripture.
Hebrews chapter 13 v 2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so
doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Sobering thought isn’t it, that person next to you could be an angel, a
messenger from the Lord. That old man in the street in raged clothes might
be an angel for all you know! Even if he isn’t, God loves him and Jesus
died for him. That person who has just walked into your church meting in
dirty smelly clothes has got feelings too, and has probably got a lot more
needs than you or I. It is easy to allow this sort of prejudice into our
churches, but it is an abomination to the Lord and needs to be stamped out.
I have seen this sort of thing in churches, and have even been guilty to
an extent myself. The answer is simple; repent of any wrong heart attitude
and treat everyone with love, honor, respect and friendliness, and then
we can’t go wrong. I will leave you with the words of our precious Lord
Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25 v 42 “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger
and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes but you did not cloth me,
I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” “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?’ “He will reply, ‘I
tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for the least of these, you
did not do for me.”
God bless all of you, lots of love kev!
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