James 2:1

New American Standard Version

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          My brothers in Christ, as those who have put our faith and trust in the Lord, I challenge you not to give preferential treatment to anyone based on what you think they can do for you.

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          Years ago, a seminary professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary carried out an interesting experiment.  Though he was a very educated and distinguished theologian, the kind that would be welcomed and recognized in any church, he disguised himself as a homeless man.  He dressed himself shabbily and his hair and beard appeared unkempt.  No one would have recognized him as the prominent professor of theology.  He looked like any other homeless man off of the street.

          Appearing this way, he visited unannounced different churches on Sunday mornings.  Amidst the images of Christ as the Good Shepherd in the ornate stained glass windows, the beautiful organ music, and the magnificent steeples atop multi-million dollar worship facilities, he found some to receive him politely, some to ignore him, and others to avoid him amidst scowls and whispers.  Thankfully, there were a few churches that received him warmly and made a genuine effort to make this seemingly destitute beggar feel welcome and wanted.

          James is challenging these early believers not to fall into the trap of valuing people based on their wealth, notoriety, or ability to benefit them in some way.  In their churches of the first century and in ours of the twenty-first century, people dressed in ragged clothes should be welcomed with the same warmth and dignity as those who wear the finest designer clothing.  Those who must walk to church because they have no car should be greeted just as sincerely as those who arrive in expensive vehicles.  We should take equal delight in seeing those who live in the most modest of dwellings that we do in seeing those who live on great estates.  Christ loves each one equally and the Body of Christ needs them all to be whole and complete.

          Another true story is told of a church in which a genuinely homeless man came in one Sunday.  He entered the Worship Center after the service had begun and the people were singing.  Perhaps not knowing how things work in a church, he simply walked up to the front and sat down on the floor between the first row of pews and the platform.  Shortly after he sat down, an elderly usher began to make his way from the back of the church toward the front where this man was sitting.  This usher had been a member of that church for many, many years and every Sunday he was there in his suit to greet the worshipers, pass out Worship Bulletins and help receive the offering. 

          As this elderly man walked up to where this homeless man was sitting, the entire congregation was watching, almost holding their breath wondering if the usher was going to ask him to move to the back.  To their surprise, when the usher reached the man, with great difficulty he lowered his stiff frame to sit down on the floor next to the homeless visitor.  He put his arm around him and they sat there and worshiped together.

          When we are more like Him, we love people not based on how the world might look upon them, but on how Jesus does.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Ask the Lord to help you see all people through His eyes.  Pray that you would resist the temptation to treat people based on what you think you might gain from them.  Look for people that you are to love through Christ today regardless of who they are or what they have.

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