James and Playing Favorites
Believers in Christ must not show favoritism

‭‭James‬ ‭2:1-4‬‬
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Favoritism or Partiality here literally means to judge by outward appearance or to treat someone favorably because of appearance.

All are equal in God’s eyes so they should be in yours.

Romans 2:11 “God does not show favoritism”

“Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

James says that when we play favorites based off outward appearances, we have made a moral mistake.

James’ point then is that when we show favoritism, we are exhibiting a wavering heart. we have a wavering within our hearts between what we can get from someone or how they can benefit us, and what God sees in them.

It’s very easy to miss the subtle ways we might be doing this in our every day lives.
– How about at the grocery store when you are looking for a check outline? We look at the cashiers appearance to determine who we think might be the fastest.
– What about picking out a seat at the lunch table? Will we go sit with the new kid, or will we seek out the more popular table to try and edge in there?

James suggests in those every day small ways of showing partiality, we are in danger of actually becoming judges with evil intentions.

We are in danger of trading God’s value of that person, for what they mean to us or what they can do for us.

‭‭James‬ ‭2:5-7‬‬
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

– James suggests Christians are not to despise the poor or the oppressed, because that is contrary to the very nature of God himself.

– He reminds us that those who are in Christ, no matter how poor in material possessions, now have the richness of the kingdom of God now, and the promise of a glorious future with God in Heaven.

‭‭James‬ ‭2:8-11‬‬
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

James so far has shown us that favoritism is wrong because it is opposed to God’s character and to his actions within the world. In these verses, we see that favoritism violates the Law of Love.

‭‭James‬ ‭2:12-13‬‬
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James begins verse 12 with a double imperative that we should live a certain way in response to our relationship with Christ. This brings us back to the key theme of verse 22, that we are to be doers of the word.

As we have so lavishly received Mercy, we are to live extending that mercy to others.
Mercy triumphs over Judgement.

James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48786410

James and God’s Religion

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

‭‭James‬ ‭1:22-27‬‬
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

We live in a world filled with self-deception. What is the source of this self-deception according to James?
It’s not a lack of information
It’s not a lack of knowledge
It’s a lack of ACTION

-We are NOT saved by works, but by faith.
-We act because we love, we don’t act to somehow earn something from God.
-But make no mistake, James says as we continue to obey there is blessing! We experience God’s best!

Religion that God our Father accepts is a function of action:
-His Word has an impact on your words
-We respond by loving the desperate
-We respond by walking in holiness

‭‭John‬ ‭14:15, 23‬‬
“If you love me, keep my commands. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

James is speaking to believers…do not deceive yourselves any longer:
-Listening to the Word isn’t enough
-Reading the Word isn’t enough
-Talking about the Word isn’t enough
-God’s religion, unlike some of man’s, is about living a faith that does – a faith that honors God and impacts others.

So how is your action?

James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and God’s Religion
Be doers of the Word!

‭‭James‬ ‭1:22-27‬‬
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

“Don’t just listen to the word, do it…”

That’s the essence of the passage- Just do it, live your life according to the life of Christ within you and his word revealed to you through the scriptures.

As we journey through this passage today, consider if the Lord has been working on a particular area in your life, yet you haven’t committed to see it through.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:22‬‬
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Howard Hendricks says “The word of God is not to make us smarter sinners, but to make us more like the savior”

Here again is a place where James is speaking Jesus.

‭‭John‬ ‭14:23-24‬‬
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:23-24‬‬
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

If we were to set this up today, it may be something like “anyone who listens to the word but does not do it is like a person who sees the speed limit sign, and immediately forgets how fast they are to drive”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:25‬‬
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

In contrast to the person who looks and forgets, the person who looks into the perfect law of Love in Christ, embracing what they have come to know in their daily lives, that person is blessed in what they do.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:26-27‬‬
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

I believe It says a lot that only a few versus have passed since James instructed us to be quick to listen and slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Here he instructs us to keep a tight reign on our tongue.

The second test of true religion is shown by the degree at which we are giving ourselves too caring for the vulnerable in our society.

The final test of true religion according to James in our passage, is to walk in Holiness.

In light of this passage today, James has posed us a searching question

is there something that God has been dealing with you on, but you haven’t responded in obedience?

‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-18‬‬
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

We have the assurance and promise of God’s divine presence to be right there with us, strengthening us, guiding us.

Will you do it today? Will you put into living what you have been hearing from the Lord?

James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and the Anger Alternative
Surrender your anger, don’t surrender to it.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:19-21‬‬
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

1.Be quick to listen
2.Be slow to speak
3.Be slow to become angry
4.Get rid of sin
5.Accept God’s saving word

If those 5 things were on a report card of your life today, how would you do? Honor Roll? Or something else?

What are the things that make you angry these days?
-Politics
-The news media
-Social media
-The church
-The government

Anger is something we all deal with on many levels, and our world is capitalizing and manipulating us through our emotions, especially anger.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:19‬‬
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

“Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear” The Message

‭‭James‬ ‭1:20‬‬
because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Human anger does not produce what God desires in our lives, or in the lives of others.

The truth is, un-controlled anger in the lives of Christians is detrimental to the work of God within the world.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:21‬‬
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James skips the behavior modification and calls for heart transformation.

This is one of those places in the letter where James is speaking Jesus.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:21-22‬‬
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Jesus knew that no behavior modification, or suppression of feelings could ever affect true change within our hearts, it had to be a divine work at a heart level.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:23-24‬‬
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Jesus is clear in this passage, your uncontrolled anger is an obstacle between you and God, whether you believe it to be justified or not.

We must surrender our anger, not surrender to it.

James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and the Anger Alternative
Surrender your anger, don’t surrender to it.

James 1:19-21
James and the Anger Alternative

‭‭James‬ ‭1:19-21‬‬
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

-Anger is a powerful emotion. You could say it is one of the most powerful emotions.
-James is writing to men and women who were angry, at least they had lots of reasons to be. These were believers in a very difficult situation – they were poor, frustrated, oppressed and far from home.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:19-20‬‬
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

In the midst of all they are facing James says (verse 19):
-“be quick to listen” (hurry up and listen)
-“be slow to speak” (delay your speaking)
-“be slow to become angry”

James makes the distinction here regarding human anger (verse 20).
-This is uncontrolled and passionate rage and wrath.
-Human anger is not going to produce God’s best in you. It leads us to think differently, act and respond differently. It literally controls us!
-Human anger never helps you. It hurts you.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:21‬‬
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

-Anger does not produce God’s righteousness. It produces filth.

‘humbly’
-The opposite of humility is pride. A posture of pride doesn’t help us respond in obedience.

‘accept the word’
-Accepting the word here means to allow it to have its intended impact on our lives.
-James always sees the Gospel through the lens of action and obedience. So ‘accepting’ the Word means ‘doing’ the Word.

‘planted in you’
-We don’t allow anger to become planted within us, instead we allow God’s Word to be planted within us.
-Jeremiah 31:33, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.”

‘which can save you’
-As believers, James is not just referring to their salvation, which many of them have experienced. The salvation here is referring to the ultimate deliverance from sin and death in the final days.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:21-24‬‬
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Surrender your anger, don’t surrender to it.

Other verses for study/reflection:
Proverbs 16:32
Ephesians 4:26-27
Psalm 37:8
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Proverbs 19:11

James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY