Rich man, poor man.

"Lord, open your word to us today.  Show us where we are partial about who we love, who we speak to, who we witness to, who we honor.  Forgive us for this sin, and the sin of attempting to impress other people with our clothes, our speech, our understanding, our works.  Father, we thank you for your love towards us, for while we still sinners Christ died for us.  Amen."

(Hi, I'm Marcus.  Mike's not here today, he's doing this, which is pretty darn cool.  He asked me to write for him today, and I'm honored to sit in for him.)

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (James 2:1 ESV)

James starts chapter 2 with a warning to Christians against "partiality".  Partiality isn't a word we use regularly, so let's review the definition:

1. Unfair bias in favor of one thing or person compared with another; favoritism
2. A particular liking or fondness for something.

Frankly, I'm partial to a lot of things.  Sweet is better than sour; ice cream is better than Broccoli. When it's snowing, I prefer warmth of a fire to the chill of the outside.  We all have our favorites; things we like and things we dislike.  It's the political season, and Christians everywhere are filled with partiality about who their going to vote for.  In fact, the act of voting is inherently impartial, because you can only vote for one candidate!

But as you might suspect, James isn't warning us against having "preferences" or "being impartial" about food, or politics.  He warns us against it in the context of the way we "hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ".  Instead of guessing what that might mean, let's move on one verse...

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,  (James 2:2 ESV)

Ah ha!  James is going to tell us not to play favorites between people.  James sets up a hypothetical situation to illustrate his point, and scene opens with two people: a Rich Man and a Poor Man, both going to church.  James doesn't simply announce this as hidden information about the characters, he points out that the men's status's were obvious to all by the way they dressed.

The Rich man adorned himself with jewelry and find clothing.  I can imagine in my mind's eye this man, striding confidently into my own church with his beautiful suit, gold rings, perfectly shined shoes. He wants to be seen, to be noticed, to be respected, to be valued.  His eyes take in the congregation, hungry to see how others view him, seeking the approval of those inside.  He is there to be worshiped, not to worship.

The Poor man is dressed badly.  Again my imagination paints a picture of a man who's clothes are tattered and unmatched.  This man could be a blue-collar worker, or someone homeless.  His eyes are cast down, not wanting to see how others view him, quietly slinking in the back of the church to sit in the last pew.  He knows he is not impressive, but comes anyhow.

With that scene set, we're missing a character.  You.  These two characters, as interesting as it would be to focus on them, aren't the lead in this play.  It's you.  Let's continue a bit more...

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?
(James 2:3-4 ESV)

Wow, who hasn't done that, possibly without even knowing it?  I certainly have.  It's not the noticing the difference that James warns us against, but the preferential treatment.  It's honoring one person over another, particularly in the Lords house, no matter how subtly.  James tells us that we "have made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts" if we give one person a place of honor over another person, for any reason.  When it's time to greet people after church, who do you greet first, and who do you overlook?

James used economic status as an example, because it's one way we judge between the value of people.  It's not the only way, though.  Race, beauty, intelligence, speech, style.  We have lots of ways of quickly sizing up someone.  But this is not God's way.  Remember that 1 Cor 1: 27-29 tells us:

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being[a] might boast in the presence of God.

God uses what is foolish, poor, low and despised.  Why?  So that no one can boast.  Not the rich man.  Not the wise man.  Not the poor man.  Not me.  Not you.  Not ever.

When we show partiality to the Rich Man as James illustrates, we give them reasons to boast, which is wrong.  When we show partiality to the Poor Man as James illustrates, we give them reason to feel ashamed, which is also wrong, for God has loves and uses them, and takes great joy in it!

 So, how are we to treat others, both Rich and Poor?  Ugly and Beautiful?  White and Black, Yellow and Red?  Jesus explained that to us:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (Matthew 22:39 ESV)

That pretty much sums it up.  You can't vote for one over the other, you must love them both the same. Isn't that how you want to be loved?