James cited Rahab as the second example of an individual who demonstrated her faith by works. Whereas Abraham is known in the Bible as the father of faith (see Galatians 3:7), Rahab was a common prostitute who lived in an apartment on the walls of Jericho. If James had been promoting “being good” as the work which demonstrates faith, then probably he would not have mentioned Rahab.

However, Rahab is honored in the Bible for her faith. Not only does James refer to her, but she is also included in Hebrews 11 as one of only two women named among the great men of faith who lived in Old Testament times. Moreover, she was not of Jewish blood—she was a Gentile from Jericho. And to top it off, she is found in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:5 and Luke 3:32).

In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

How did Rahab exemplify faith? She received the messengers and sent them out by another way. When the king sent for Rahab to release the spies into his custody, she told him they had already departed when they were actually hiding up on her roof. What was it about her action that prompted James to consider it on par with the obedience of Abraham, the friend of God? Let Rahab speak for herself as she explained her decision to the spies:

“I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:9-11, emphasis added).

Very little touches the heart of God as deeply as faith toward His promises concerning the land of Israel. And this woman of ill-repute declared boldly that God had given the land to the Jews. Moreover, she declared out of her mouth that the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Her faith in God and His purposes for Israel set her apart as a woman of unusual faith.

Had she kept her feelings about the God of the Jews to herself, or for fear of her own government neglected to help the spies, we would have never read of her in Bible; indeed she would have lost her life when Jericho fell, and her DNA would have never flowed through the Messiah’s veins.

Rahab and Abraham were two entirely different persons, each living in his or her allotted time span; yet both were honored in Scripture as individuals of great faith. Surveying what was recorded in the Bible about both of these faithful souls, you can see that neither was perfect, yet each bear the distinction of being commended more than once in the New Testament as people of faith.

As you consider the lives of both Rahab and Abraham and the faith each one demonstrated, be encouraged. God does not view you as others do; God looks deep within, at your heart. He reads the thoughts and motives that are there and delights as you seek to act on the Word—however awkward, shaky, or unpolished you may be. Whereas others may scoff or turn away from you in embarrassment or disgust as you allow your faith to shape your behavior, God rejoices. As you exalt God and His Word more and more, practicing your faith boldly in your life, the fear of man will lose its power to control you. And you will discover that for you, faith is very much alive.

May your faith shine through your actions!

Dorothy

Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:15-16, Living Bible

Many wonderful people of faith have been bewildered throughout the history of the Church about the subject of works vs. grace and faith. Am I too legalistic?  Am I too loose? How do I reject condemnation without rejecting the pure conviction of the Holy Spirit? These are extremely important questions.

This is not a new challenge; the apostles James and Paul both addressed it in their letters, as have men and women of God throughout the ages. But navigating through the various doctrines promoted by the vast array of teachers can be mind-boggling, to say the least, when all you want to do is to pursue God with the simplicity of devotion to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 11:3). It is my aim to clear up some of the muddy waters, not to agitate them with more confusion.

James had just stated the case—faith without works is useless. He did not say that works were required for you to go to Heaven; he did not say that you cannot be saved unless you do good deeds. He did say that if you have true, legitimate faith, works will be present in your life.

We’ve all seen it: A churchgoer breezes through life misusing, abusing, and using others without any sign of conviction or concern at all. We’ve watched him—or her—live like the devil, talk like the devil, and rarely bat an eye. We’ve watched as he seems to say all the right things at church but then turns his back again and again on the very real needs and hurts of others.

James did not blanketly state that this man—or woman—was going to hell. He did insist, however, that if you recognize yourself—even a little—in this description, that you must take a closer look at the fruit—or lack thereof—in your life and allow the Spirit of God to search you and reveal any hurtful way in you (see Psalm 139:23-24). If anything’s amiss, He’ll reveal it to you, and He’ll also show you what to do about it. He wants to help you; likewise, He wants to use you to help others.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected…

James pointed to Abraham as an example of one whose faith played out in actions. When God directed Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his long-desired, promised son, he obeyed the Lord’s instructions. In fact, he would have followed through fully if God hadn’t stopped him right before the kill. Isaac was delivered from death, Abraham was spared from having to kill his son, and God found a man who would obey Him without reservation (see Genesis 22:1-14).

You, as well, have the opportunity every day to follow through with God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. As you do what you read in the Word or sense in your spirit, you, too, are allowing your faith to play out in your actions. And this reveals that your faith is not useless—your faith is very much alive!

…the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”…

Without action, Abraham couldn’t have demonstrated the very real faith within him, thereby rendering his faith useless. However, Abraham’s faith played out in a supreme act of obedience, and because of that, God declared him righteous.

The New Testament is clear: you follow in the footsteps of Abraham when you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Your faith in Him and His atoning sacrifice on Calvary is the “work” God uses to declare you righteous (see John 6:29). At the very moment you receive Jesus, you not only are called righteous, but you are also cleansed, forgiven, and made new—something Abraham never experienced.

…and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Abraham was the only person throughout the record of the Old Testament who was called the friend of God (see 2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8). What gave him this amazing honor above all others—even above David, a man after God’s own heart? Abraham obeyed God unconditionally, proving his faith by doing what he heard God tell him to do—even to the point of nearly sacrificing his precious son.

You, too, are a friend of God. Jesus said, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15, emphasis added).

What draws you into the intimacy of friendship with God? Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him” (John 14:21, emphasis added). Notice that Jesus emphasized, like James, both hearing and doing the Word.

Jesus went on to say in verse 23, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him” (emphasis added). As you prioritize God’s Word and put it into action in your life—despite how uncomfortable or tough it may be—Jesus discloses Himself to you and makes your life His personal habitation and hang out.

You will never be able to perform enough good deeds to earn a spot in Heaven. That’s impossible; and that’s why Jesus died for you. But as you grow in the grace of God through faith in Christ and put His Word into practice in your life, you demonstrate the reality of the faith that is in you. As the simplicity of your devotion to Christ plays out through your actions, you honor Him and help others along the way—and you become someone He calls friend.

You are a friend of God!

Dorothy

James labored with this group of believers. You can hear it in his tone in this portion of the letter. Evidently, they thought that being “saved by grace through faith” meant that they could coast from here on out. They were “in” with God for eternity; the rest was gravy. Indeed, there was some cause for their ease—authentic faith in Christ and His atoning work on the cross truly did make them new men and women. But again, it appears they mistook their position of rest in Christ for license to live for themselves without regard for the conviction and promptings of the Holy Spirit.

It is likely that these believers were so thrilled with the message about grace that they took it to the extreme to the exclusion of the rest of the teachings of the apostles. The same tendency is alive and well today, and as a result, the teaching of God’s wonderful grace gets a bad rap. The fact that you are loved by God despite your sin is foundational to salvation; without His grace, you can’t get saved. The fact that you live in this dispensation of grace—a set time in history in which God views you through the blood of His Son Jesus—is absolutely true and should set your life ablaze with thankfulness to Him. The fact that God’s grace is always extended to you in your life, unconditionally connecting you to the Father as a son or a daughter is intended by Him to comfort, encourage, and empower you.

Yet despite the wonder and all-encompassing depth of His grace, the Bible is also very clear about another important truth: you are accountable to God for your choices and behaviors in this life. Faith in Jesus and His accompanying grace does not exempt you from responsibility to live uprightly and to walk in love with others.

James was adamant about this. When he asked, “Are you willing to recognize…?” he was spotlighting the root of the problem—the will of man. As it is now, so it was in James’ day—people want to believe what they want to believe and are often unwilling to hear anything else—even if it comes straight from the Word of God.

He even called them foolish, using a Greek word that means “empty, vain, devoid of truth” (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2756&t=KJV ). They were foolish because they assumed that they could live their lives believing in Jesus without ever manifesting His love to others.

…faith without works is useless…

Faith without works is useless, but works won’t save you. However, if you say that you believe in Jesus without exerting any effort to help others, yours is a very unstable faith, at best, and according to James, that type of faith is useless.

I know that I need to lean upon the grace of God to do the works of God whether they are supernatural or completely natural. If I pray for the sick or lead the lost to Jesus, I need grace to empower and direct me. If I buy groceries for someone or write out a check so they can pay rent, I need the grace of God to empower and direct me. If I open a door for a stranger, say a kind word, or catch someone’s eye and smile, I need the grace of God to remind me that it’s not all about me.

James was unwavering—he taught that faith without works is useless, similar to lighting a lamp and then hiding it under a bushel (see Matthew 5:15). Jesus’ death freed us from sin; He did not redeem us so we could live for ourselves alone or just be like everyone else. Instead, His sacrificial death empowers us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), to manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (see 2 Corinthians 2:14), and to declare His praises (1 Peter 2:9). It is an honor and an adventure to take part in the works of faith, however God may lead you. And He will lead you.

May your faith be demonstrated by the gracious works of God!

Dorothy

…prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life… Philippians 2:15b-16a

You believe that God is one. You do well…

James commended his brothers for believing in one God; by this they proved they were neither atheists nor followers of the false gods to which much of society was devoted at that time. According to the writer of Hebrews who wrote “he who comes to God must believe that He is” (see Hebrews 11:6), the early believers mastered the first baby step of faith—they believed in the one true God.

However, neither the writer of Hebrews nor James taught that the mere acknowledgement of God’s existence equaled saving faith. Hebrews 11:6 goes on to say that the one who comes to God must not only believe that He exists, but must also believe that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (NKJV). Simply believing that there is a God on one hand and diligently seeking Him on the other are two different things. You can believe in Him without any passion or awe at all; however, when you seek Him diligently, you are moved with spiritual hunger and an earnest desire to know Him. Believing in Him is intellectual acknowledgement—a good thing; but diligently seeking Him involves not only your mind, but your heart and soul as well—the basis of intimacy in any relationship.

…the demons also believe, and shudder.

Demons believe in God; they not only believe, but they resentfully recognize the authority of His Son, as well. They loathe God; they despise the fact that His Word and the name of Jesus spoken in faith by one of His children has the power to thwart their plans. Yes, they know all too well that God exists and that He is a very real Presence here on the earth.

Therefore, what distinguishes your belief in God from the type of belief that resides in demons? James’ very blunt answer is this: your works. You aren’t saved by your works; you are saved by faith in Jesus. But saving faith is demonstrated through corresponding actions that bring glory to God and salvation and help to others.

May your faith shine so vividly through your life that others “will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you” (see 2 Corinthians 9:13-14).

Blessings,

Dorothy

No two believers are exactly alike. Gifts, talents, interests, and personalities vary from person to person within the Church. Paul wrote that there are varieties of gifts, ministries, and effects within the body of Christ, and each member is to move in the manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

However, despite the huge diversity of gifts, callings, and godly talents within the Church, each member is to live by faith—no exceptions. Likewise, each member is accountable to the Lord for the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad (see 2 Corinthians 5:10).  Therefore, you are responsible to walk by faith and you are accountable for all the things you do—your works.

You and I may have different functions within the Church, but I can’t say, “I am called to works; you are called to faith.” You and I are both called to works and faith.

James challenged those who said they had genuine faith without works. He wrote, “…show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (emphasis added). He knew that no one’s faith could be proven without corresponding actions or deeds of kindness and charity.

Confusion sneaks in the door whenever you emphasize one side of the faith/works spectrum to the exclusion of the other. Many cults are built around the belief that human works are the basis of salvation; however, the Word of God is clear—you are saved by grace through faith, and that is not of your own manufacturing; it is a gift from God (see Ephesians 2:8). Whether you are good, bad, or somewhere in between—you must be born again through faith in Jesus Christ if you hope to make Heaven your eternal home. It is impossible to be saved any other way.

Why, then, did James emphasize works? Do we, as some cults suggest, receive partial salvation through Christ and then bridge the gap by our own good deeds? Can we save ourselves by our works? Absolutely not.

James pointed out very directly that if you live a life of faith and consecration to Christ, then you will demonstrate it by the way you treat others. Your genuine faith life will be accompanied by a trail of good fruit and kind deeds. If your personal history is not littered with such occurrences, then very possibly you need an overhaul by the One you say you serve.

You do not work your way into Heaven. However, if your faith lacks any external indication that the Lord lives in you, it is at best useless (see James 2:16 and 20), and is very likely dead.

I believe James’ motive in writing this was to stir believers to authentic expression of faith, especially toward those less fortunate than themselves. His goal was neither to douse the grace message of Paul nor to push the Church into legalism. His objective, I believe, was simply to offer his brethren an opportunity to examine whether or not their actions lined up with their words of faith.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Being a recipient of the loving grace of God will never exempt you from examining your life to determine if your actions demonstrate the Lord you proclaim. And if you do find that you have a deficit of works that declare your faith (and there’s a good chance you will from time to time), God’s grace is the very place to which you should run. His grace will lift you up and put you back on track to live out your faith—full of the gracious works of Jesus.

May you, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, live by faith and let it blossom into wonderful good works!

Dorothy

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

James opened a can of worms with this question: “Can faith without works save you?” Upon first glance, he seems to contradict the message preached by the apostle Paul found in Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” How can both be true and coexist within the New Testament?

You are saved by grace through faith; it is a gift from God. You are not saved as a result of your works—no amount of good deeds on your part could ever grant you entrance into Heaven when you die. No matter how good you’ve been, you have need of Jesus who bore your sin and the punishment for it. You receive redemption through your faith—also a gift from God. This is the very bedrock of the Christian message.

However, as the young church was learning about the grace of God through Paul’s revelation, James wrote a powerful letter declaring that faith without works is dead. Was the early church divided along these lines or were they just doctrinally schizophrenic? The answer, as far as the teachings of Paul and James are concerned, is neither.

You are saved by grace through faith and that not of yourself. And faith without works is dead. These seemingly contradictory truths do not negate one another; instead, they complement and complete each other, offering a full-orbed view of the proper operation of faith in the life of a believer.

James asked, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” In other words, saying so doesn’t make it so.

When I was a little girl, my sister and I would put petticoats on our heads and “sway in the breeze”, singing “I’m a flower.” Were we flowers? We played that game all the time, but we never underwent photosynthesis. We never grew roots. We couldn’t. We were humans.

Likewise, merely saying I’m a Christian doesn’t make it so any more than a child singing I’m a flower turns her into a plant. A trade must first take place—you lay your sin at His feet in exchange for His cleansing forgiveness and righteousness. Without this deliberate choice on your part, you do not become a Christian, no matter what you call yourself.

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Being saved by grace through faith truly changes you. You are born again and receive the Father’s nature. The imprint of eternity is forever emblazoned upon your heart, and the fire of His Spirit warms and brings light through your life. Although you may stumble in your decisions from time to time, the conviction of God urges you onward, willing and working within you for His good pleasure (see Philippians 2:13).

When I get up in the morning, I pull out one of the cold, empty coffee mugs that sit in my cabinet. Each mug looks lovely, sturdy, and welcoming, but not one of them can warm my hands or awaken my groggy body or soul until it receives the infilling of steaming coffee, fresh from the pot.

Once filled, that mug takes on the warmth of the brew which fills it, and as I sip its contents, my taste buds smile. The rich liquid within is constant: it always warms, it always fills the room with rich aroma, and it always delivers what it promises.

Similarly, before you receive Jesus, you may be helpful, appealing, or sweet; however, something is missing—a relationship with the One who lovingly created you. But once you become filled with God by faith in Christ, you take on the characteristics of the One who indwells you. Mugs filled with hot coffee become hot; people filled with Christ become Christ-like.

As a believer, you behave like the One who indwells you. When Jesus sees a brother or sister in need of food or clothing, He does something about it. Therefore, as His vessel, you likewise take action as He works in you to help those who have need. Hot coffee warms up cold mugs. The living Christ within a person prompts loving action. If no one is helped by your life, as James said, what use is that?

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

If a mug doesn’t feel hot to the touch or emit a rich coffee aroma, there’s a good chance it isn’t filled. If a professor of faith lives for himself alone and not at all for others, there’s a good chance he is not filled. Such a faith—which never reaches out to others—is empty, devoid of the One it professes.

You are saved by grace through faith, not as a result of your own works. When Jesus takes up residence in your heart, you emit His warmth, aroma, and giving nature to those around you and they are helped.

If you discover that you’re doing nothing to minister to needs of anyone else, then go back to the Source, hold up the cold, empty mug of your life to Him, and by faith, receive the piping hot infilling of the One who died for you. Then pour out into the lives of others.

Dorothy

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

James continued his instruction on Christian partiality by illustrating that the royal law he described in verse 8 is not subject to the whims or circumstances of life. Those who heard his letter were very familiar with the Mosaic Law and its requirements—just because you were “good” at one point of the law didn’t cut you any slack on the rest of it. Everyone in the congregation where this letter was first read knew this all too well.

For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Although he was writing to born again men and women, James drew the connection between embracing the whole Old Testament as a standard to the believer committing his entire life to the law of love. Even if you walked in love with almost everyone, if by your behavior or attitude you dishonored even one of your brothers or sisters in the body, your good behavior toward the rest did not absolve you from the dishonor you showed to the one. Remember, our Lord was He who left the ninety-nine to find the one (see Matthew 18:12). That one was very important to Him, and He took the manner in which the one was treated very seriously. The good news is that Jesus is just as protective toward you.

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

James revisits the law of liberty. In James 1:25 he wrote, “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” Not only are you to gaze into His Word and do what it says, but you are to so speak and so act as those who are to be judged by it, as well. You are called to submit everything in your life to the Word of God, which is the law of liberty. By this you can keep your motives, attitudes, and behaviors in contact with the washing of the water of the Word. By this you also stay humble before the Lord, knowing that you—along with everyone else—are accountable to the royal law, the law of liberty.

For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

You will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. You will be rewarded according to the deeds you’ve done in your body here on earth (see 2 Corinthians 5:10); all of your works will be revealed that day by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). In light of this fearsomely awesome event to come, the wisest way to navigate through life is by James’ sweeping admonition: Judgment will be merciless if you have shown no mercy; however, mercy triumphs over judgment.

Mercy will be the common denominator at the judgment seat of Christ. His mercy poured out toward you—because of your professed faith in Him—has made you His own treasured possession (see Malachi 3:17), and will usher you into your eternal home. I believe that your mercy shown toward others throughout your life will render you triumphant over any outstanding judgments against you.

Paul wrote, “Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work…If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13, 15). The mercy of our Lord is evident here; despite the flawed works of this man and the deep loss he sustains on that day, yet he, as a new creature in Christ, will be saved. And what is the primary requirement of the Lord for believers? To love the Lord and to love others. Living below this standard destabilizes and undermines everything else in your life. Living below this call to love is the same as building with wood, hay, and stubble in your life. Those things burn; judgment is merciless to the one who has shown no mercy. But he himself will be saved as through fire. I believe that a Christian life stingy in mercy is a life built with wood, hay, and stubble.

On the other hand, mercy triumphs over judgment. As you major on mercy toward others in your life—even when you need to confront them with truth—your deeds will be formed of gold, silver, and precious stone (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-14). Despite other flaws that may have nagged you in your life, as you make it your habit to major on the royal law, the law of love—liberally displaying mercy to those you encounter—you walk in the mercy that triumphs over judgment. An earth walk saturated with mercy toward others will be a precious commodity on the day you see Jesus face to face.

When you are disappointed with yourself—perhaps your behaviors, attitudes, words, or thoughts fall short of the glory of God—you have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ Himself (see 1 John 2:1). Turn to Him with your whole heart and allow His love and forgiveness to wash you. But remember, freely you’ve received His mercy; now freely extend it to others as well (see Matthew 10:8). I believe that as you do, you will be building with gold, silver, and precious stones, not wood, hay, or stubble. And when you arrive before His throne—and you will—the mercy you have shown toward others will cause you to triumph over judgment.

Sow mercy—reap mercy!

Dorothy

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

You may think, Enough already, James! as the letter he wrote continues to expose preferential treatment in the church. But he had even more to say.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

James started this thought with the word “if”. He wrote “If…you are fulfilling the royal law”. He knew full well that being born again did not automatically guarantee right thinking or godly behavior. Shocking as it may be, his use of the word if reveals that every believer has the capacity to choose contrary to God’s will.

He wrote that if you are fulfilling the royal law according to Scripture you are doing well. Within the recreated spirit of us all is the power live according to the Word. Nevertheless, it is up to each one of us to develop the love walk in our own daily experience.

What is the royal law by which we should live? James quotes Leviticus. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (see Leviticus 19:18).

Evidently, James spent a lot of time meditating on this portion of Leviticus: “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the Lord. You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:15-18).

This Old Testament exhortation carries the heart of the New Testament within it. James called it the royal law because it is the law by which the King of the universe operates. Without the recreating power of Jesus, neither you nor I could ever dream of living this kind of life with any consistency. However, by His shed blood and the indwelling Holy Spirit, you are a partaker of His wonderful love nature, and because you are born of Him and bear His nature, you are capable of living this way. It’s up to you, though, to yield to Him and walk in it.

Do you ever wonder how you are doing in your Christian walk? James writes that if you love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. Walking in love toward God and man is your highest calling.

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

No matter how much Bible knowledge you acquire; no matter how gifted you are in persuasion or prayer; no matter how selfless you are in giving or serving—without love you have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal; it profits you nothing; and you are nothing (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

James belabored this point due to the pervasiveness of Christian partiality. As believers, you and I are called to a higher walk, a royal lifestyle of loving with God’s love and being motivated by His motivations.

This simple, convicting, and profound truth is to dominate everything you and I do as believers of Jesus Christ. Functioning in any other way toward anyone in your life or your church is to live well below your calling. As a child of the King, you are royalty. Therefore the royal law is your law: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Embrace your calling, child of the King!

Dorothy

James noticed huge distinctions in the way some church members responded to the rich compared to the poor. He called this behavior “personal favoritism” and asserted that it was inconsistent with faith in Jesus Christ. Often this differentiation in treatment was demonstrated in preferential seating in meetings for wealthy, well-connected individuals, while underprivileged members were directed to sit in less desirable locations. Because of this observation, James asked these believers, “Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:4.)

After that, James wrote concerning the real status of poorer members. God Himself chose them to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him (see James 2:5). Christians who viewed their less fortunate brethren as beneath them were making a critical misjudgment absolutely inconsistent with their profession of faith.

But you have dishonored the poor man.

This was a searing evaluation. Whether the believers were aware of the effect of their favoritism or not, they had definitely dishonored the poor and those they deemed less appealing. James knew that for things to change in the church, the truth must be spoken despite its ugly reality.

You, likewise, are called to honor those around you and not to dishonor them. Despite how foreign it may feel to interact with those who are not your “type of people”, the love of God has been poured out within your heart through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 5:5). True community and fellowship among believers is only accomplished as each of us 1.) walk freely in the fruit of the Spirit toward one another; 2.) let go of the distinctions among ourselves; and 3.) refuse to judge with evil motives.

Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?  Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

It is my opinion that James was not referring to rich believers here but to the wealthy in society at large. However, he used this observation about the ruthless, privileged few to draw a stark contrast between the things God valued as opposed to what men value. James said in effect, the people whose lifestyles you longingly crave are the same ones who oppress you and drag you into lawsuits!

Remember, persecution was afoot in James’ time, and believers were targeted as dangerous radicals whose faith was said to pose a threat to civilization. Therefore, James unmasked the true nature of the lifestyle that some Christians naively emulated. He reminded his fellow believers: It’s not the poor and meek but the rich and powerful who blaspheme the beautiful name of Jesus.

James’ rebuke, although painful, was not insensitive. He saw discrepancies in the attitudes of his brethren toward fellow Christians, and for the health of the early church and the generations of believers to come, he addressed it. Dishonor among believers will always be a direct violation of the will of God and is something worth addressing and remedying.

May the living God, the God of liberty, move within all of us to eradicate personal favoritism and the tendency to make distinctions among ourselves. And may no one in our midst be dishonored again.

Dorothy

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Romans 12:16

The King of the universe, the God of all things, and the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills has never conducted His business according to human standards. One of God’s business principles that flies in the face of human thinking is displayed in James’ letter. The Lord has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.

But, you may think, doesn’t God want to bless us and meet all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus? (See Philippians 4:19.) Of course He does. He says so in His Word. And He has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. Both concepts are rock-solid.

God is not impressed by man’s ability or power. Nor does He marvel at human wealth. He’s seen it all and none of it fazes Him. But something does move Him—your faith in Him and His Word. Hebrews 11:6 declares, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” When you do place your faith in the Lord and His Word, you please Him and He will move on your behalf.

This is why the Bible says He has chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith. The poor are painfully aware of their need, whereas the financially secure are often blinded to their own personal deficiency, distracted by comfort. In order to turn to Christ, you must acknowledge your need of Him. If you feel no lack, you are less likely to recognize just how needy you really are.

God longs for all to be saved, regardless of their financial situation. However, Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (see Matthew 19:24). Why? Again, it has to do with recognition of need. If you are poor, life has done its best to humiliate you and beat you down, and therefore it’s easier to humble yourself before God—you’re already about as low as you can go. But if you are secure and comfortable, it probably seems ludicrous for you to turn to an unseen Power known for demanding total surrender—in exchange for what? Eternal life? A new heart? Blessings? I’m already living the good life, you think. Why wreck it all with religion?

Through outside prayer and often great difficulty, a secure man comes to realize that he is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (see Revelation 3:17). Once any person recognizes his great need—whether it is material, spiritual, or both—he becomes “poor in spirit” (see Matthew 5:3), and if he turns by faith to the Lord for His saving grace, he is blessed and inherits the kingdom of heaven.

God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It is not merely the penniless who are poor; the poor in spirit includes anyone who recognizes his deep need for a Savior. And when someone who is poor in spirit reaches out in faith to Christ—regardless of financial status—that person becomes an heir of the kingdom.

Blessings are yours as you recognize your need and turn to God in faith to meet it.

Dorothy

…but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31