James 2:1-10 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (2) 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, (3) 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,” (4) have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (5) 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? (6) But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? (7) Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? (8) If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. (9) But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (10) For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

We have all heard it said, “God is no respecter of persons.” But what does that really mean? When it comes to salvation, He longs that men and women, boys and girls, people from every tribe, tongue, and nation come to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Regardless of geographic location, economic status, race, color, or creed, the Lord longs to have a relationship with all people.

James instructs us to not be a respecter of persons. When we are in the church do we gravitate toward those who have a better economic status than others? Do we favor the man or woman who is nicely dressed over the guy who is wearing tattered clothes and smells as though he hasn’t showered in a week? Do we walk on the other side of the street when we are approaching a homeless person or do we offer the love of Christ to all people regardless of the way they look, how much money they have, or whether or not we can gain something from them.

While we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. He didn’t find the lovely people to die for. He didn’t die for the rich and the well dressed. He didn’t die for the ones with resources and talent so He could have the best of the best build His kingdom. No, he died for all men and women who put their faith in Christ. 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 might boast in the presence of God.

It is not about being rich in the world, rather, God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith. This does not mean that a rich person can not be saved. God shows no partiality. However, there are conditions of a poor person that make them more likely to embrace the message of the Gospel. Rich or poor is irrelevant in the kingdom of God. God is wanting us to treat all people with the same love and respect he has for them. We are to not make distinctions and judge by the outer appearance as this comes from our evil thoughts. Rather, we are to remember the command to love our neighbor as ourself and to show no partiality in the way we treat those God puts in our path.

Prayer

Lord, help me today to see all men created in your image. I want to have a heart for people as you have and I need you to fill me with your Spirit and help me to have the eyes of Christ as I walk in faith loving my neighbor as myself. Amen.