James 2:1-9 (ESV)
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? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
God loves each of us. God doesn't show partiality and we shouldn't either. In this passage from James the examples of the rich and the poor man are both extremes. The man wearing the gold ring and fine clothing representing someone that would be very wealthy and the poor man such as a beggar. James warned of showing special attention to the rich and make distinctions.
All of us have been made in the image of God. May we never be those who show favoritism based on physical traits, status or outward appearances.
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