DO NOT SHOW FAVORITISM AMONG YOURSELVES

 

“My brothers, do not show favoritism among yourselves. Suppose a man with a gold ring and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and also a poor man in shabby clothes comes in. And you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, 'You sit here, please,' but you tell the poor man, 'You stand over there, or sit under my footstool!' Are you not then guilty of discrimination?” -James 2:1-5

Favoritism occurs when we focus merely upon the externals. There is more than one way to show favoritism.  James addresses primarily the matter of showing favoritism to those who appear especially wealthy, but that is just one illustration of favoritism.  We may play favorites with respect to those who are more attractive than others, more powerful than others, or more influential than others. We may discriminate against others on the basis of education, gender, race, or ethnicity.

This is James’ concern here as he describes the aforementioned illustration of two different visitors entering the church building: “a man with gold rings, in fine apparel” and another person described as “a poor man in filthy clothes.” Stop for a moment and consider your own immediate inclination.  Were you in a position to welcome these two visitors, who would you be more likely to approach first?  Be honest!  Would you be more likely to greet the man richly attired who is presumably also personable and influential?  Or would you be more likely to reach out to the shabbily dressed man?  Each must answer for himself, but James seems to suggest that most of us would treat the rich man more graciously than we would the poor man. Favoritism occurs when we focus merely upon the externals. 

When the rich young ruler approached Jesus, Jesus was not impressed with the man’s externals.  In fact, Jesus instructed the religious seeker to go and sell all that he had if he truly wished to follow Him (Luke 18:18-23).  Jesus let the man, described by Luke as “very rich,” walk away.  I can’t help but imagine that Jesus’ disciples were beside themselves: “Jesus! That man has all kinds of money!  What great influence we would have if he were part of our group!” This is the sort of thinking we must be vigilant to guard against.  There is no place for favoritism in the church.  It is incompatible with the faith and we must not allow it to infect the fellowship.

James then connects the issue of favoritism to the nature of faith. He argues that faith without works is dead. In other words, it is not enough to simply believe in God; we must also demonstrate our faith through our actions. James points out that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. This is a powerful reminder that our social status or economic background is irrelevant when it comes to our relationship with God. It is also a challenge for us to examine our own attitudes towards the poor. Do we treat them with the same respect and dignity that we show to those who are wealthy and powerful?