JAMES

How to Treat People
August 7, 2022

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I. Do life from the INSIDE out – vs - OUTSIDE in.

James 2:1 - My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

Definition: “favoritism” - to receive somebody’s face

Areas of Discrimination:

A. APPEARANCE

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

B. ANCESTRY

C. AGE

D. ACHIEVEMENT

E. AFFLUENCE

James 2:2-4 - Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes 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?

II. Do life UPSIDE down – vs - RIGHT SIDE up.

Three problems with favoritism:

A. Favoritism is UNCHRISTIAN.

James 2:1 - My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

Faith and favoritism are incompatible – we’re a family.

Romans 2:11 - For God does not show favoritism.

B. Favoritism is UNREASONABLE.

James 2:5-7 - Listen, my dear brothers: 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 insulted 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 slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

C. Favoritism is UNLOVING.

James 2:8 - If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

Galatians 5:14 - The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
How I relate to you proves how much I love God.

The seriousness of it:

James 2:9-13 - 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, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do 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!

III. The right way to LIVE.

(How To Have A Loving Church)

STEP 1: ACCEPT everyone.

Romans 15:7 - Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

STEP 2: APPRECIATE everyone.

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

STEP 3: AFFIRM everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.