BELIEVERS MUST NOT SHOW FAVORITISM

 

My brothers and sisters,

Believers in our Glorious Lord Jesus Christ

Must Not Show Favoritism.

2 Suppose a man comes into your Meeting

Wearing a Gold Ring and Fine Clothes,

And a poor man in Filthy Old Clothes also come in.

3 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,”

4 Have you not Discriminated Among Yourselves

And become Judges with Evil Thoughts?

5 Listen, my 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?

6 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?

7 Are they not the Ones

Who are Blaspheming the Noble Name

Of Him to Whom you Belong?

8 If you really Keep the Royal Law

Found in the Scriptures,

“Love your Neighbor as Yourself,”

You are doing Right.

9 But if you Show Favoritism,

You Sin and are Convicted

By the Law as Lawbreakers.

10 For whoever Keeps the Whole Law

And yet Stumbles at Just One Point

Is Guilty of Breaking All Of It.

11 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.

12 Speak and Act

As those who are Going to be Judged by the Law

That gives Freedom,

13 Because Judgment without Mercy

Will be shown to Anyone

Who has not been Merciful.

MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT.

(James 2:1-13, NIV)