Thanks for taking the time to read the sermon. I hope that you are all having a very good week. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to post this message.
Last week, we finished chapter one in our study of the book of James. As we move into chapter 2 beginning this week, we will begin to explore some of the more controversial aspects of the book of James. As I've said before, James just tells it like it is. He doesn't pull any punches when it comes to presenting his important message.
Chapter 2 begins with the words, "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with partiality." The first thing that I want to mention in this verse is the way that James speaks about Jesus. He refers to Jesus as Lord and the Lord of glory. By proclaiming Jesus as Lord, James is saying that all of his allegiance belongs to Jesus. During James' day, many said the Caesar was Lord. James is declaring that Jesus is the Lord of all. No ruler or country should hold our primary allegiance. Also, James says that Jesus is the Lord of glory. This is a reference to the deity of Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of all creation. He is God and man.
James then moves on to speak about the sin of showing partiality or favoritism. James says that everyone should be treated the same way. He tells us clearly that it is wrong to favor a rich and powerful person over a poor person. James says that if we give a favorable seat to a rich man and then tell the poor man to sit on the floor or in a bad seat, we are showing favoritism to the rich and powerful over the poor, and God considers that to be a sin..
If you don't think that things like this happen in the church today, I can give you plenty of examples. In the church where my parents attended just before they passed away, there was a section in the front of the church reserved for those who gave a certain amount of money to the church. If a celebrity or important figure came to the church, that person was always seated in the front row. Also, the senior pastor never met with the common people in the church. His time was reserved for those who were the major donors. This is just wrong on so many levels. It is the perfect example of what James is writing about in this passage.
James is saying that the Lord Jesus loves the rich and the poor. Jesus is no respecter of persons. He doesn't care what kind of work a person does or how much money a person has. Jesus wasn't impressed by those things while He was on earth, and He is not impressed with them now. Jesus cares about whether or not someone believes in Him and loves Him. He is concerned about whether or not a person will do His will in this world.
Churches and Christians shouldn't look down on people that don't have much money. It's not right. One way that this is done is the way that many Christians speak about the homeless. I've heard many ministers say that the homeless need to accept Christ as Savior so that they can get out of homelessness. There may be many homeless people who need the Lord, but everyone who is homeless is not an unbeliever. There are many who through no fault of there own experienced some really bad times and are living in their car or in shelter or on the streets. Thinking that someone is lost just because they are really poor is committing the same type of sin that James is writing about.
James, I believe, would have the same thing to say about discrimination of all types within the church. There is no place for racism, sexism or ethnicism within the church of Jesus Christ. All are one in Him. Any church that treats one race or sex or ethnic group in a superior way to some other race, sex or ethnic group is not following the way of Jesus.
Now, James will go on to present something that some may find to be shocking. He says in verse five that, "God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him. James will go on to describe rich people as oppressors.
I believe that what James is saying is that it is often those who don't have as much of this world's things who are the one's who are the most committed to the Lord Jesus. They are not counting on the things of this world, their hope is in God alone. Jesus identified with the poor and the oppressed while He was on this earth. Throughout the Bible, God is quite clear that He expects leaders to protect and to help the poor.
Rich and powerful people and corporations often exploit the poor in this world in order to increase their own gain. This is done when rich people and corporations pay ridiculously low wages and have their workers working in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The rich of this world will answer to Jesus at the last judgment for the way that they treated the least among them.
James finishes up this section by reiterating the words of Jesus that one should love neighbor as self. James says that this is a royal law of Scripture. I've said many times that if we would follow the words of Jesus in the Golden Rule and the Two Great Commandments, the world would be a lot better off. The Golden Rule is do unto others as you would have done to you. The Great Commandment is love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second great commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. Another good word to adhere to is Paul's words that tell us to, be kind to one another. Treat everyone well. Love God and love those in this world. Amen.
Prayer Requests.
Please continue to pray that there will not be any flooding in my area. Thank you.
Let us all pray that the coronavirus pandemic will end soon. Pray that the vaccines will get out to those who need them, and pray that the sick will recover.
Continue to pray for peace on earth. Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Libya really need our prayers.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Qatar and Brunei. Pray that many will come to understand the love of Jesus.
Next week, we will continue in James 2, Lord willing. I will post the verses on Monday. I hope to have a review on Wednesday if I can get some reading done. May God bless you all.
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