James 2:1-13
I. DON'T SHOW FAVORITISM
- God Is No Respecter of Person 1 Samuel 16:1-7 The one God chooses, even was outside -David, guarding the sheep.
Jesse even forgot about David. But God didn't.
- Jesus Was No Respecter of Persons They (enemies) sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "We know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of GOd in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are." Matt 22:16
Jesus hangout with the one who is not consider -slave, prostitute, etc. - Paul Was No Respecter of Persons You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29. When you come to the cross, everything is level there.
II. WHAT IS YOUR MEASURING ROD?
We have seen from the passages above that God's measuring rod is different then man's
Man's Measuring Rod
- Appearance
- Achievements
- Possessions
- Athleticism
God's Measuring Rod
- Faithfulness - faithful in small things, God will in trust you in big things.
- Character - A good name / integrity is better then riches
- Love - inclined to love someone
- Forgiveness - the Lord's prayer.
Christian love is not just the Golden Rule; Christian Love means treating others the way God has treated me.
It is:
an act of will, not emotion
motive : to glorify God
means : power of the Spirit within
III. TREATING OTHERS AS EQUALS
- IES Mission : Love God, Love Others, Reach The World. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of the, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. ANd the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40
How do we love others? We treat them equally.
Jesus redefine the word "neighbor" : ALL, not just Jew.
James 2:8 quotes Leviticus 19:8, which is quoted in Matthew 22:39.
Loving Others is a main IES mission. - IES Core Value : Acceptability We welcomes everybody just as they are - everyone is welcome at IES. Any style of clothing, etc.
- God Sees Everyone's Potential For Glory We need to see people through God's eyes. He doesn't see us in our sinful past - He sees us in our glorious future.
We can't look down to the unbelievers. We must adjust our glasses, like on how God sees them, then they can have a better chance.
CONCLUSION
2931 "You Called Me Brother"
Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, was passing along a street one day when a begger stopped him and pleaded for alms. The great Russian searched through his pockets for a coin, but finding none he regretfully said, "Please don't be angry with me, my brother, but I have nothing with me. If I did I would gladly give it to you."
The begger's face flamed up, and he said, "You have given me more than I asked for. You have called me brother."
-Evangelistic Illustration
- In your Life Group: minister to the ones who are not lovely
- In your daily Life : humble yourself and don't play favorities
- In your personal life : use God's measuring rod, not man's, and see the glorious potential in each person's life.
