James 2:1-10, 14-17 (NRSV)
Read James 2:1-10, 14-17 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 2My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? Verse 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, Verse 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," Verse 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Verse 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? Verse 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Verse 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
Verse 8You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Verse 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Verse 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
Verse 14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? Verse 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, Verse 16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? Verse 17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Devotion
James saw that the church members were demonstrating an unholy favoritism towards the rich and looking down their noses at the poor. Rather than playing favorites with the rich and offering sympathy to the poor, James is calling us to stand in the place between the rich and poor.
Could it be our calling to introduce the wealthy to the poor? Perhaps it is through such relationships that true change can occur.
God does not show favoritism for the rich. God loves all people without condition, without exception. We, who are filled with the love of God, are called to serve the neighbor.
Actions that protect our privileged status and fail to engage those we serve are not, in truth, faithful works. James asks the question, "Where is the good news for the neighbor?" Filled with the grace of God, our acts of service will flow through us as good news for our neighbor.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for loving all people without condition. Inspired by your grace, help us to express the love of Christ for all people through our good works. Amen.