James 2:1–4 (ESV):
2 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing
comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and
if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit
here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,”
or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil thoughts?
NOTE: Why do we do
this, show partiality to the rich and powerful? We seek to gain favor and we
seek association with the person. Even if we gain nothing, just the association
makes us feel favored or important, and that is pride. Even if we have nothing,
having a relationship to the rich and the powerful is something we will boast
in. Few boast of knowing someone poor unless it is to prove their magnanimity.
And when we do something for the poor, it is to be seen and known by our
actions, not our relationship to the person. We are a mess relational-ly, never
satisfied with our lot in life, always something more or greater. The real
challenge is to pay attention equally to people independent of their financial
status, circle of friends, or personal power.
PRAYER: Lord, help
me to execute this way of thinking in all that I do. May ever person be
important because you made them and not any other reason.
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