James 2:1-13

James 2:1-13

The preferential treatment of the wealthy is an expression of the heart that is given over to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Unfortunately, it often makes its way into the church. The word translated “personal favoritism” comes from a word that at its root means “to hold the face.” That seems an odd description at first, but understand it this way. It is the way in which a gullible dope might be deceived and conned by a beautiful woman. She might be an evil conspirator, but her charms hide her wickedness from the fool. Wealth can work the same way on the Christian whose motives are not pure. The preferential treatment of the rich and poor says nothing about them. They both may be holy or wicked. But this behavior is a sort of test, and any partiality indicates a failed test. The failure indicated the presence of an evil and divisive intent.

James is not saying the poor are inherently morally superior. There are poor who are profoundly wicked. However, in the call to trust the Lord, the poor are less tempted to instead trust their own wealth. To leave all and follow Christ should be easier when there is less to leave. It does actually depend on how much we are possessed by what we possess. 

The oppression at the hands of the rich is no new thing. Everyone wants more, and those with greater means are more capable of getting more than those with less. This statement may be a not very veiled reference to the Sadducees and the high priestly family, who were like organized crime in extorting wealth. While preferential treatment in seating doesn't seem to be like strong-arm tactics of extortion, it comes from the same motive and heart.

In contrast, James calls us to fulfill the “Royal Law,” summed up in “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We are in one of two categories: we either keep or break this law. If you keep the law almost perfectly but break only one part, you are a lawbreaker. We are all lawbreakers, but this hope remains: if we are merciful, we can obtain mercy. 

“Lord, help me to hold all wealth, mine and others, with an open hand. AMEN”