Day 5: James 2:1-13
In this chapter, James challenges us not to show favouritism.
Verse 1
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism.
This isn’t talking about your favourite restaurant, or your favourite chocolate bar, but it’s all about people.
To unpack this idea, James gives the example of the rich and poor being treated differently in church, but this could just as easily have been about any other characteristic which is used to divide people.
In verse 8, he explains you can’t truly follow the command to love your neighbour as yourself, if you also show favouritism. He concludes that to show favoritism is to sin.
When Jesus looks at his church, he sees his children. When Jesus died on the cross, he died on the cross for the world, he’s an inclusive God who welcomes all. So I think we can safely take from this that God is not a fan of favouritism.
James could have just said, favoritism is bad – don’t do it! However, he goes one step further giving a specific and detailed example to the people he is writing to. This encourages them, and us to examine our behaviour and practises.
This is key when reading God’s word! Let us be people who don’t just brush past the challenge, giving it our verbal Amen, but let’s ask God to search our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24), and challenge ourselves about the areas we may need to change.
Ps Hannah Hoyle
Bishop Auckland Campus Pastor