Faithful Living - Studies from the Book of James
No 12 The Peril of
Discrimination. 3:1-10
Introduction. In
the whole Epistle of James, nothing is more typical of his teaching, than the
passage now before us. For here we have sound doctrine, wise counsel and
practical commonsense.
James is the Epistle of right living,
which makes it clear, that Believers are not only to be patient in times of
testing, they are to practise the Truth. As James deals with the need for
practical Christianity, he now highlights a peril of discrimination within the
Church.
During the last century some major
developments have swept across the world. In
There have been tremendous changes in
As the
The
Command He Gives.
James 2:1 My brethren, have
not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of
persons.
A. The Familiarity, which James
Shares "My Brethren"
This is a term, which he uses over and
over again. James is highlighting his relationship with those to whom he is
writing. The Brotherhood of believers in Christ is a glorious one. These
Christians may be scattered abroad, and they do have their faults and failings,
but they are his brethren in the Lord.
Rom 12:5 so we, being many,
are one body in Christ, and every one members one of
another.
We have this illustrated for us in Paul’s
letter to Philemon. Philemon had a slave named O-nes-I-mus,
who had run away from his master. It seems that he
might also have stolen something form Philemon.
But God stepped into this man’s life and
he was gloriously saved. He may have been loathed as a slave and because of
what he had done, but the Lord loved him and he was profitable to the apostle
Paul.
Paul sends him back to Philemon and he
says Phile 1:16 Not now as a servant, but above a
servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both
in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Phile 1:17 If thou
count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. Paul reaches across the vast gulf of social, and
religious class distinction and he calls O-nes-I-mus
his brother. Philemon, receive his as you would receive me.
1. The Familiarity, which James
Shares.
2. The Deity of which James
Speaks
My brethren, have not the
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
In the early church there was not only the
Practice of Faith, there was often the Practice of Flattery. There was
discrimination and favouritism shown to the well to do.
Those, to whom James was writing, were
flattering the rich, in the hope of getting something out of them.
Illustration. A wise old man explained the difference between
gossip and flattery. Gossip is what we say
behind someone’s back that we would never say to his or her face.
Flattery is what we say to someone’s face that we would never say behind
his or her back.
James was saying – this discrimination,
this favouritism and flattery towards the rich has got to stop. No person in
the fellowship of believers is one bit better than another. When the Church
meets everyone should be equal. We are to be like our Lord, the Lord of Glory
who loved all people alike, and was no respecter of persons
Jesus looked at the heart. He
was not impressed with riches or with social status. Even his enemies said of
Him in Mat 22:16, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest
the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man:
for thou regardest not the person of men.
Our Lord did not look on the outward
appearance; he looked at the heart. He saw the potential in the lives of
sinners. In Simon, he saw a rock, in Matthew, the publican, he saw a faithful
disciple. In Saul of
When
God chose the son that Jesse ignored – his
youngest son David. Both Jesse and Samuel made the same mistake. They judged
the potential of the boys by what they saw on the outside.
At that point, God gave Samuel a reminder
that we would do well to remember: the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man
looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
God is not impressed with a man’s social
status or his financial portfolio. He’s not influenced by the price of the
house in which he lives, or by price of the car he drives. God only looks at
one thing: what’s in a man’s heart.
Apparently, the early believers had
forgotten that truth. The glamour and glitter of this world had easily
influenced these believers. Designer labels and expensive jewellery easily
impressed them, as it still does in some Churches and Ministries today.
James reminds us that the object of the Christian faith is the Lord of glory.
In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul wrote, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich,
yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.
Even though all the glorious wealth of
heaven was His, Christ in grace left it behind to redeem mankind. It was more
important to Him, that He extends His grace to sinners than cling to His glory.
There were many who rejected and despised Jesus when He was ministering on
earth. They could not see anything physical or material that attracted them.
They saw no beauty in Him that they should desire Him, because they judged Him
on human standards.
He came from the wrong town. He did not
graduate from their accepted schools. He did not have any money, and His
followers were a band of sinners, and among them were publicans and harlots.
They rejected the Lord of Glory because they looked at Him and judged Him on human
standards.
The
Command He Gives. V1
The
Conduct He Exposes V
2-4
It was the Inconsistency that he saw in
the Church. A worship service is about to start.
Two men walk in. It is clear that one is
wealthy, for he is dressed in the latest designer suit, and he is wearing a
gold ring. It was not uncommon in those days for several rings to be worn as a
mark of social distinction.
The other man arrives in shabby clothing
and it is evident that he is very poor. The usher on the door is greatly
enamoured by the rich man and he makes sure that he gets one of the best seats
in the Church. If this rich man joins this fellowship he will certainly be a
good asset to the Church.
But to The poor man he says, " stand you over there out of the way, or sit on the
floor".
This was blatant discrimination and
favouritism of the worse kind, because it was not based on moral qualities but
on financial resources.
This was a judgement that was made through
the eyes of man and not through the eyes of Christ. If a Christian is a visitor
to the church, we ought to receive them regardless of their social standing,
because Christ lives in them.
If a sinner comes into the church, whether
that person is rich or poor, we are to accept them because Christ died for
them. Let us remember that it is Christ who is the link between the
church and others and His is a link of love. Jesus loves all men and His people
must seek to do the same.
Everyone wants to feel loved. I don’t
think there are any exceptions to this. You want to feel loved. Yet, not
everyone feels loved. In fact, some people feel rejected. Some people feel
unwelcome. Why? It is because we can be guilty of showing favouritism. We can
stereotype people. We can classify them, based on all kinds of real and
imagined differences. And then we assign certain characteristics to these
people.
Illustration--
I came across a story that
illustrates this. A judged glared down from his bench at the prospective juror
and said "And just why is it," he asked, "that you don’t want
to serve on this jury?" The man replied, "Well, your honour,
I’m biased. Just one look at that man convinced me that he is guilty."
The judged scowled and replied, "That man is not the defendant, he is the
defence lawyer.
The Problem, which James highlights, was
this, there was Indifference to the Poor—and there was Indulgence to the
Rich Judgement was passed on mere outward
appearance. This is the world’s standard of Values, it is not to be the
Churches.
Let me say in passing that we must not
confuse the issue before us. There is nothing wrong with wealth. It’s the
love of money, "not money" that is the root of all kinds of evil.
Some, who have little money, can love it
more than those who have wealth. It is not sinful to be rich and it does not
mean that one is more spiritual if they are poor. They are many rich people who
are spiritual, and many poor people who are sinful.
The lesson for the Church is, to beware of
the Peril of discrimination between the rich and the poor. How easily the flesh
can creep into the life of a fellowship.
Those who are prosperous look down on
those without money, and those who are without look at the prosperous with
jealousy, envy and suspicion. Each form their own
little cliques, and soon, instead of a church you have two religious clubs.
One is for the poor and the other for the
rich. Is a Jewel less precious because it is in a plain box? Is a person less
important to the Lord or to the Church because of an unattractive appearance?
The poor man was despised and so was our
blessed Lord. Speaking of His poverty the Lord said Mat
8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the
air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
As the religious leaders looked at Him they
saw but a poor man, but in fact they were looking at the Lord of Glory. Is it
any wonder that Jesus said to these people!
John 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Let us not be so foolish, as to be
impressed with that which is superficial, but be impressed with that which is
spiritual and displays the fruit of the Spirit. James has already stated
Ch 1:9-10 Let
the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that
he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
As Christians we must always rejoice
that we belong to a heavenly realm. We should never look at riches and poverty
in the same light as the unregenerate man.
We are of great worth to God, and we
should rejoice in the spiritual things that we can never loose and not give way
to bitterness.
The Poor man, who in the eyes of the world is not worth very much, rejoices in his
relationship with the Lord who has elevated him to a high position.
The Prosperous man rejoices that the Lord has brought him low, and has revealed to him
that his only lasting security is to be found in a saving personal relationship
with Christ as his Saviour.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:
for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Illustration--John Newton-- credited his wife with being the
inspiration that enabled him to leave the slave trading in
Habakkuk 3:17: "Though the fig tree
does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines ... yet I will rejoice in
the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."
We are all just poor sinners
saved by Grace.
"Accept one another,
just as Christ accepted you..."
James informs us that it is an evil
thought - wicked and ungodly - to judge the potential of men or women to
contribute to the
What is more important? Having a
glamorous church, or a grace-filled church?
1. The
Command He Gives. V 1
2. The
Conduct He Exposes V
2-4
3. The
Consequences He Describes V 5,
6a
Hearken, my beloved brethren,
Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom
which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor.
The epistle of James is not only a
practical book, it is also a doctrinal one. We note
that he now draws our attention to consider two precious truths.
The Right of
the Sovereign.
"Hath God not chosen the
poor of this world"?
If God has chosen the poor, then by what
line of reasoning or right have you to despise them?
God has the Sovereign right to choose out
a people for Himself and for His sovereign purpose. If God has chosen the
poor of this world, why do you discriminate against them?
God hath chosen, this is a great truth,
which runs throughout the Bible.
Moses told the children of Israel
Deut 7:6 For thou art an
holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a
special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of
the earth.
King David could testify before
Jesus told His disciples
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen
me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth
fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask
of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The Apostle Paul says to the Church-- 2 Thess. 2:13 But we are bound to
give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of
the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Let us lay hold of this wonderful truth,
God hath chosen in His Grace and he has chosen us. Those whom He has chosen and
called to be His faithful followers will share the eternal triumph of Christ.
This is the rock on which James builds his
case!
The Right of the Sovereign-- is Incontestable—
The Right of the Sovereign-- is Unconventional
God hath chosen the poor of this world to
be heirs of the kingdom! Human choice is usually on the basis of ability,
importance, influence, or wealth. This is conventional choice. God’s choice is
unconventional. God did not choose His people on merit, for sinners have no
merit in His eyes. He chooses the foolish to become faithful.
He chooses the weak to become His
witnesses!. The Lowly to become loyal!. The despised to become His disciples! The nobody of this
world to become the nobility of heaven!.
God ignores National differences; He
chooses both Jews and Gentiles to be living stones in the Church. He ignores
social differences, for masters and slaves are alike to Him.
The Right of the Sovereign-- is Incontestable— is
Unconventional—and it is Unconditional.
For God has chosen us in
Christ before the foundation of the world.
Before we were born, we were chosen in
Christ. "I have chosen you." It is not that you have got God,
but that He has got you.
It was C.H
Spurgeon who said "It is perfectly clear that God chose me before
I was born, for he would never have chosen me afterwards".
Oswald Chambers --- Why is God at
work in you and me, bending, breaking, moulding, and doing just as he chooses? For one purpose only-that he may be able to say, "This
is my man, my woman."--We must never discriminate against those whom
the Lord hath chosen in Grace.
The Right of the Sovereign--
The Riches of
the Saint. V5 "Rich
in faith and heirs of the kingdom"
People are not chosen because they are
rich in faith, but they are chosen to be rich in faith.
Grace is not the reward for faith ---
faith is the result of Grace Through Grace and faith, the poor of this world have inherited the wealth of
the kingdom.
The question we must seek to answer is How
rich is our Faith? For the Saints of God have riches here on earth and all the
daily blessings of God and they have riches to claim in the hereafter.
We are now heirs of God and joint heirs
with Christ; because He became poor, we have become rich. Because He died, we
live and reign in the kingdom.
1 Cor
2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that
love him.
There will be no
discrimination in heaven.
Hold lightly to the things of
earth, but cling tightly to heavenly things.
It is hard to tune in on
heaven's message if our lives are full of earthly static.
Nine-year-old Phillip was in a Sunday
school class of eight-year-olds. The other children did not welcome Philip to
their class.
They often made fun of him, not because he
was older, but because he was "different." Phillip suffered from
Down’s syndrome. He had the physical characteristics, slow responses, and
mildly retarded
On Easter Sunday,
the teacher gave each child one of those plastic eggs that pull apart in
the middle. She instructed her class to go outdoors, find a symbol of "new
life" and place it within the egg. Afterwards, the teacher opened each
egg; one had placed a pretty flower in the egg. Another egg revealed a tiny
butterfly.
Finally, the teacher opened the last egg,
and it was empty. "That’s stupid," said one of the little boys in the
class. Then the teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Phillip. Looking up he
said,
"That’s mine. I did I,. I have new
life because the tomb is empty."
A hush fell over the class and from that
time forward, Phillip became a part of the group. Whatever had made Him
different was never mentioned again. That summer, Phillip died and each child
in his Sunday school class placed a little empty plastic egg on top of his
coffin.
In his own way, he had been poor
in this world, but rich in faith.