Show No Partiality

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
James 2:1–7
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Show No Partiality
It is our human nature to rank things and to give more to our biases. Our own sinful flesh cannot love the good things of God equally (or the evil things of the world). It always shows partiality. It always lines things up. It always ranks things. Most of the time we do it by appearances. How something looks is everything to us. This is even a problem for us with the holy things of God. God has chosen to veil the majesty of his glory in our midst and his presence is hidden under water, bread, or wine, and his great good news is declared by sinful men. God, however, never shows partiality. He is not a respecter of persons. His wrath is equally dealt out to the unbeliever and his love to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. So, faith must change our vision. We must be converted. We must freely give all good things to those in need. We can love our neighbor because Jesus first loved us and died for us. When we were still sinners, he died for all of us and showered all of us with his grace and mercy.
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