The Folly Of Favoritism

Today’s post concludes our treatment of James 2:1-7 and is obtained from our verse-by-verse study of the Book Of James.

Favoritism is an Insult to the Family 

James uses a term of endearment when addressing the church. He refers to them as “My dear brethren.” He has in mind the entire church family, brothers and sisters (cf. James 2:2, 5, 14). The phrase “My dear brethren” is a reminder that Christians belong to a greater family: Christian brothers and sisters who love one another and will be there for one another in good times and bad.

The majority of Christians in James’ day were poor (though cf. James 5:1-6). So, James is teaching that the church is dishonoring their own family by showing favoritism to the rich. After all, it is the rich, James declares, “who oppress you and drag you into the courts.” James is talking about rich unbelievers here. It is the rich non-Christians who were taking believers to court, needlessly litigating against them to exploit them. The actions of the rich were an insult to God. As James asks rhetorically, “Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?” The “noble name” is the name of Christ, the name by which Christians are known.

So when Christians were showing favoritism to the rich they were, in essence, aligning themselves with those who were generally known for slandering Christ. James is not saying that it is wrong for Christians to be wealthy. He is simply pointing out that the wealthy of his day were generally on the wrong side of the Christian faith. It’s as if he were asking, “Why would you rather be aligned with unbelievers who are known for bringing shame upon the name of Jesus?”

Before we explore this problem of favoritism further, let’s take a moment to thank God for His adopting us into His family apart from our externals. He did not choose us to be part of His family because of anything that would impress others. In the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth:

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Here is a reminder that Christians have nothing to boast about before God! Imagine if God did choose us on the merits of our special status or worth. How many of us then would qualify as Christians? Consider this: What if God chose us merely based upon external appearances or abilities, and we didn’t have what was required: enough money, enough influence, the correct gender, and the right skin color? Who of us could be saved?

Thankfully, God did not choose us based on externals. He chose us on the basis of the perfect work of His Son, Jesus Christ. And though there is terrific mystery in the doctrine of election, this much we know: “Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life (John 3:16).”  No matter our influence, background, socioeconomic condition, ethnicity, or gender, we may repent and believe in Jesus Christ and be saved from our sins.

What About You?

• Since James calls favoritism a sin (James 2:9), how will you treat others this week in your neighborhood, workplace, or school?
• Do you really think of fellow church members as brothers and sisters? Do you treat your spiritual family members the same way you treat physical family members? Or do you treat them differently?  
• Of Jesus, Paul writes: “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).”  What does Paul mean?

**Excerpt from You’re Either Walking The Walk Or Just Running Your Mouth (Preaching Truth: 2020), pages 66-68, available on Amazon.