Godless favouritism Vs. Godly faith: (chap.2)
Godless favouritism: (2:1-8):
James gives 2-striking examples. Most of the people are guilty of such sins:
- Treating the rich with great respect and the poor with contempt: The persons coming to our assembly with golden rings and rich clothes are given higher place to sit and the persons looking shabby are given footstools to sit. This is the “pride of life” the dangerous sin. It is also the sin of showing partiality which is very much against the nature of God. But we must understand that God made the poor of this world to shame the rich. Many poor people are rich in faith and are the inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
In this world, the rich are exploiting and oppressing the poor people. They are dragging the innocents to the court with false accusations. The rich are blaspheming against God.
James admonishes all the believers to obey the scripture “Love your neighbour as yourself.” It is a command which every Christian or believer must follow, lest we break the command.
- The consequences of favouritism: (2:9-13):
- By showing disrespect to the poor, we are breaking God’s command and are becoming transgressors. Even if we follow all commands yet break one command we are condemned as transgressors.
- If we do not show mercy, we are judged and we will not be shown any mercy. Our actions whatever may be would be rewarded as it is. Therefore, showing partiality or favouritism is a big sin which would deprive us from the eternal life.
Godly faith: (2:14-26):
James gives good images or examples of faith without works and faith with works.
- If a destitute comes home without food and clothes to warm their bodies, if we say “depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” it is only a hypocrisy. Faith without works is dead. Every Christian must exercise both faith and works, without any one of them, he is not a believer at all. It is all only a head faith but not heart faith. A person who has a heart faith is constrained to act. His actions and love show what is there in his heart. A person has faith and another person has works, both cannot please God.
- Demons also have head belief that Jesus Christ is God. They tremble and shudder at the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. So what good is there if a person has only a head faith?
2-great Examples:
- Abraham was justified by his works when he took his son Isaac to offer on the altar. Abraham believed God and it was credited unto him righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. Because of his actions, his faith was made perfect. Abraham is justified by his faith and works and not by faith alone or by works alone.
- Rahab the prostitute although belonging to a heathen country “Jericho” had faith in God. Her faith alone did not save her. She had converted her faith into actions by receiving the spies (messengers), hid them when her own king’s soldiers came to catch them and sent the spies in other direction. She had shown her faith by saving the spies. This faith coupled with action had given her an inheritance with the royal line and she became the ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ.