Introduction.
In the whole Epistle of James, nothing is more
typical of his teaching, than the passage now before
us. For here we have sound
doctrine, wise counsel and practical commonsense.
James is the Epistle
of right living, which makes it clear, that Believers
are not only to be patient in times of testing, they
are to practise the Truth. As James deals with the need
for practical Christianity, he now highlights a peril
of discrimination within the Church.
During the last century
some major developments have swept across the world.
In Russia, Jews, who were discriminated against for
years, are being freed in growing numbers and are returning
to Israel.
There have been tremendous
changes in South Africa, where there was discrimination
for many years. Yet, in spite of the progress, which
has been made, sadly, discrimination is still very much
alive in our world today.
As the Church of Christ
we must not avoid the issue of discrimination from without
and discrimination from within. The Church of the Lord
Jesus ought to be the one place where discrimination
is not be tolerated. There are all sorts of subtle discriminations,
which can creep into the Church. James warns against
such folly.
The
Command He Gives.
James
2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
A.
The Familiarity, which James Shares
"My Brethren"
This is a term, which
he uses over and over again. James is highlighting his
relationship with those to whom he is writing. The Brotherhood
of believers in Christ is a glorious one. These Christians
may be scattered abroad, and they do have their faults
and failings, but they are his brethren in the Lord.
Rom
12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ,
and every one members one of another.
We have this illustrated
for us in Paul’s letter to Philemon. Philemon had
a slave named O-nes-I-mus, who had run away from his
master. It seems that he might also have stolen something
form Philemon.
But God stepped into
this man’s life and he was gloriously saved. He
may have been loathed as a slave and because of what
he had done, but the Lord loved him and he was profitable
to the apostle Paul.
Paul sends him back to
Philemon and he says Phile 1:16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother
beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee,
both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Phile 1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as
myself. Paul reaches across the vast gulf of
social, and religious class distinction and he calls
O-nes-I-mus his brother. Philemon, receive his as you
would receive me.
1.
The Familiarity, which James Shares.
2.
The Deity of which James Speaks
My
brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
In the early church there
was not only the Practice of Faith, there was often
the Practice of Flattery. There was discrimination and
favouritism shown to the well to do.
Those, to whom James
was writing, were flattering the rich, in the hope of
getting something out of them.
Illustration.
A wise old man explained the difference between gossip
and flattery. Gossip is
what we say behind someone’s back that we
would never say to his or her face. Flattery is what
we say to someone’s face that we would never
say behind his or her back.
James was saying –
this discrimination, this favouritism and flattery towards
the rich has got to stop. No person in the fellowship
of believers is one bit better than another. When the
Church meets everyone should be equal. We are to be
like our Lord, the Lord of Glory who loved all people
alike, and was no respecter of persons
Jesus
looked at the heart. He was not impressed with riches
or with social status. Even his enemies said of Him
in Mat 22:16, Master, we know that thou art true, and
teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou
for any man: for thou regardest not the person
of men.
Our Lord did not look
on the outward appearance; he looked at the heart. He
saw the potential in the lives of sinners. In Simon,
he saw a rock, in Matthew, the publican, he saw a faithful
disciple. In Saul of Tarsus, the Persecutor of the Church,
He saw a mighty apostle who would carry the burden of
the early Church. Jesus welcomed all who trusted Him
and He forgave them.
When Israel needed a
new king after Saul had proven unreliable, Samuel went
to the house of Jesse. Each of Jesse’s boys was
paraded past Samuel. Each looked like the material of
which kings are made. Samuel was impressed. In his opinion,
any one of these boys would have been adequate for the
job.
God chose the son that
Jesse ignored – his youngest son David. Both Jesse
and Samuel made the same mistake. They judged the potential
of the boys by what they saw on the outside.
At that point, God gave
Samuel a reminder that we would do well to remember:
the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looks on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
God is not impressed
with a man’s social status or his financial portfolio.
He’s not influenced by the price of the house in
which he lives, or by price of the car he drives. God
only looks at one thing: what’s in a man’s
heart.
Apparently, the early
believers had forgotten that truth. The glamour and
glitter of this world had easily influenced these believers.
Designer labels and expensive jewellery easily impressed
them, as it still does in some Churches and Ministries
today. James reminds us that the object of the Christian
faith is the Lord of glory.
In 2 Corinthians 8:9,
Paul wrote, For ye know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet
for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty
might be rich.
Even though all the glorious
wealth of heaven was His, Christ in grace left it behind
to redeem mankind. It was more important to Him, that
He extends His grace to sinners than cling to His glory.
There were many who rejected and despised Jesus when
He was ministering on earth. They could not see anything
physical or material that attracted them. They saw no
beauty in Him that they should desire Him, because they
judged Him on human standards.
He came from the wrong
town. He did not graduate from their accepted schools.
He did not have any money, and His followers were a
band of sinners, and among them were publicans and harlots.
They rejected the Lord of Glory because they looked
at Him and judged Him on human standards.
The
Command He Gives. V1
The
Conduct He Exposes V 2-4
It was the Inconsistency
that he saw in the Church. A worship service is about
to start.
Two men walk in. It is
clear that one is wealthy, for he is dressed in the
latest designer suit, and he is wearing a gold ring.
It was not uncommon in those days for several rings
to be worn as a mark of social distinction.
The other man arrives
in shabby clothing and it is evident that he is very
poor. The usher on the door is greatly enamoured by
the rich man and he makes sure that he gets one of the
best seats in the Church. If this rich man joins this
fellowship he will certainly be a good asset to the
Church.
But to The poor man he
says, " stand you over there out of the way, or
sit on the floor".
This was blatant discrimination
and favouritism of the worse kind, because it was not
based on moral qualities but on financial resources.
This was a judgement
that was made through the eyes of man and not through
the eyes of Christ. If a Christian is a visitor
to the church, we ought to receive them regardless of
their social standing, because Christ lives in them.
If a sinner comes into
the church, whether that person is rich or poor, we
are to accept them because Christ died for them. Let
us remember that it is Christ who is the link
between the church and others and His is a link of love.
Jesus loves all men and His people must seek to do the
same.
Everyone wants to feel
loved. I don’t think there are any exceptions to
this. You want to feel loved. Yet, not everyone feels
loved. In fact, some people feel rejected. Some people
feel unwelcome. Why? It is because we can be guilty
of showing favouritism. We can stereotype people. We
can classify them, based on all kinds of real and imagined
differences. And then we assign certain characteristics
to these people.
Illustration--
I came across a story that illustrates this.
A judged glared down from his bench at the prospective
juror and said "And just why is it," he
asked, "that you don’t want to serve on this
jury?" The man replied, "Well, your
honour, I’m biased. Just one look at that man
convinced me that he is guilty." The judged scowled
and replied, "That man is not the defendant, he
is the defence lawyer.
The Problem, which James
highlights, was this, there was Indifference to the
Poor—and there was Indulgence to the Rich Judgement was passed on mere outward appearance. This is the world’s
standard of Values, it is not to be the Churches.
Let me say in passing
that we must not confuse the issue before us. There
is nothing wrong with wealth. It’s the love
of money, "not money" that is the root of
all kinds of evil.
Some, who have little
money, can love it more than those who have wealth.
It is not sinful to be rich and it does not mean that
one is more spiritual if they are poor. They are many
rich people who are spiritual, and many poor people
who are sinful.
The lesson for the Church
is, to beware of the Peril of discrimination between
the rich and the poor. How easily the flesh can creep
into the life of a fellowship.
Those who are prosperous
look down on those without money, and those who are
without look at the prosperous with jealousy, envy and
suspicion. Each form their own little cliques, and soon,
instead of a church you have two religious clubs.
One is for the poor and
the other for the rich. Is a Jewel less precious because
it is in a plain box? Is a person less important to
the Lord or to the Church because of an unattractive
appearance?
The poor man was despised
and so was our blessed Lord. Speaking of His poverty
the Lord said Mat 8:20
And Jesus saith unto him, The
foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests;
but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
As the religious leaders
looked at Him they saw but a poor man, but in fact they
were looking at the Lord of Glory. Is it any wonder
that Jesus said to these people!
John
7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge
righteous judgment.
Let us not be so foolish,
as to be impressed with that which is superficial, but
be impressed with that which is spiritual and displays
the fruit of the Spirit. James has already stated
Ch
1:9-10 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that
he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low:
because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
As Christians we must
always rejoice that we belong to a heavenly realm.
We should never look at riches and poverty in the same
light as the unregenerate man.
We are of great worth
to God, and we should rejoice in the spiritual things
that we can never loose and not give way to bitterness.
The
Poor man, who in
the eyes of the world is not worth very much, rejoices
in his relationship with the Lord who has elevated him
to a high position.
The
Prosperous man rejoices
that the Lord has brought him low, and has revealed
to him that his only lasting security is to be found
in a saving personal relationship with Christ as his
Saviour.
Gal
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for
ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Illustration--John
Newton-- credited his wife with being the inspiration
that enabled him to leave the slave trading in Africa
and find salvation in Jesus Christ. They were married
for forty years. When she died Newton preached on this
text from
Habakkuk
3:17: "Though the
fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the
vines ... yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be
joyful in God my Saviour."
We
are all just poor sinners saved by Grace.
"Accept
one another, just as Christ accepted you..."
James informs us that
it is an evil thought - wicked and ungodly - to judge
the potential of men or women to contribute to the Kingdom
of God by outward appearances.
What is more important?
Having a glamorous church, or a grace-filled church?
1.
The Command He Gives. V 1
2.
The Conduct He Exposes V 2-4
3.
The Consequences He Describes V 5, 6a
Hearken,
my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of
this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which
he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have
despised the poor.
The epistle of James
is not only a practical book, it is also a doctrinal
one. We note that he now draws our attention to consider
two precious truths.
The
Right of the Sovereign.
"Hath God not chosen the poor of this
world"?
If God has chosen the
poor, then by what line of reasoning or right have you
to despise them?
God has the Sovereign
right to choose out a people for Himself and for His
sovereign purpose. If God has chosen the poor of
this world, why do you discriminate against them?
God hath chosen, this
is a great truth, which runs throughout the Bible.
Moses
told the children of Israel
Deut
7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD
thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special
people unto himself, above all people that are upon
the face of the earth.
King
David could testify before
Israel 1 Chr 28:4 Howbeit
the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house
of my father to be king over Israel for ever:
Jesus
told His disciples
John
15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth
fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you.
The Apostle Paul says
to the Church-- 2 Thess. 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you,
brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification
of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Let us lay hold of this
wonderful truth, God hath chosen in His Grace and he
has chosen us. Those whom He has chosen and called to
be His faithful followers will share the eternal triumph
of Christ.
This is the rock on which
James builds his case!
The
Right of the Sovereign-- is
Incontestable—
The
Right of the Sovereign-- is Unconventional
God hath chosen the poor
of this world to be heirs of the kingdom! Human choice
is usually on the basis of ability, importance, influence,
or wealth. This is conventional choice. God’s choice
is unconventional. God did not choose His people on
merit, for sinners have no merit in His eyes. He chooses
the foolish to become faithful.
He chooses the weak to
become His witnesses!. The Lowly to become loyal!. The
despised to become His disciples! The nobody of this
world to become the nobility of heaven!.
God ignores National
differences; He chooses both Jews and Gentiles to be
living stones in the Church. He ignores social differences,
for masters and slaves are alike to Him.
The
Right of the Sovereign-- is Incontestable— is Unconventional—and it is Unconditional.
For
God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of
the world.
Before we were born,
we were chosen in Christ. "I have chosen you."
It is not that you have got God, but that He has got
you.
It
was C.H Spurgeon who said "It is perfectly
clear that God chose me before I was born, for he would
never have chosen me afterwards".
Oswald
Chambers --- Why is God at work in you
and me, bending, breaking, moulding, and doing just
as he chooses? For one purpose only-that he may be able
to say, "This is my man, my woman."--We
must never discriminate against those whom the Lord
hath chosen in Grace.
The
Right of the Sovereign--
The
Riches of the Saint. V5 "Rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom"
People are not chosen
because they are rich in faith, but they are chosen
to be rich in faith.
Grace is not
the reward for faith --- faith is the result of Grace
Through Grace and faith, the poor of this world
have inherited the wealth of the kingdom.
The question we must
seek to answer is How rich is our Faith? For the Saints
of God have riches here on earth and all the daily blessings
of God and they have riches to claim in the hereafter.
We are now heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ; because He became poor,
we have become rich. Because He died, we live and reign
in the kingdom.
1
Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love
him.
There
will be no discrimination in heaven.
Hold
lightly to the things of earth, but cling tightly to
heavenly things.
It
is hard to tune in on heaven's message if our lives
are full of earthly static.
Nine-year-old Phillip
was in a Sunday school class of eight-year-olds. The
other children did not welcome Philip to their class.
They often made fun of
him, not because he was older, but because he was "different."
Phillip suffered from Down’s syndrome. He had the
physical characteristics, slow responses, and mildly
retarded
On Easter Sunday,
the teacher gave each child one of those plastic
eggs that pull apart in the middle. She instructed her
class to go outdoors, find a symbol of "new life"
and place it within the egg. Afterwards, the teacher
opened each egg; one had placed a pretty flower in the
egg. Another egg revealed a tiny butterfly.
Finally, the teacher
opened the last egg, and it was empty. "That’s
stupid," said one of the little boys in the class.
Then the teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Phillip.
Looking up he said,
"That’s
mine. I did I,. I have new life because the tomb is
empty."
A hush fell over the
class and from that time forward, Phillip became a part
of the group. Whatever had made Him different was never
mentioned again. That summer, Phillip died and each
child in his Sunday school class placed a little empty
plastic egg on top of his coffin.
In
his own way, he had been poor in this world, but rich
in faith.
|
