JAMES DAY 11 - Playing Favorites

DAY 11
PLAYING FAVORITES James 2:1
“I’ve got you all figured out.”

Have you ever thought this about someone? Of course you have! I have, too, an embarassing amount of times. I scanned someone’s hair, clothes, tattoos, jewelry, and way of speaking. I quickly filled out their entire life story.

But I also decided if they rated any more of my time.

And that’s a problem.

In chapter two of his letter, the apostle James defines this problem: “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” Favoritism is a fun word. It smooshes together two words that literally mean “to receive the face.” You accept whatever’s presented to you as reality.

What’s it look like to play favorites? James knows because he sees it happening in his churches. He paints a little picture in v.2-4. Two people walk into church for worship. One’s dressed in Armani and Louis Vuitton. The other looks like they got the rejects from Goodwill. You make a beeline to Jeff Bezos, shake his hand, smile big, offer to get him coffee, “Hey, you wanna sit by me?” You show him special attention. You look suspiciously at Mrs Goodwill. Maybe you’ll say hi, if you have time. She’ll probably find a seat without your help.

What is favoritism? Favoritism means I got you figured out just by looking at you and I like what I see so I treat you better. If I don’t like what I see and treat you worse, that’s discrimination. James uses that word in v.4. “Discriminate” means you make a decision - a judgment.

It happens every day. Every time we favor someone, or discriminate against someone, because of what we see on the surface, we put on that black robe, grab the gavel, and sit down to issue a verdict. James says we “become judges with evil thoughts.”

We judge people and they judge us. How does it feel?

This week we’ll talk about how to reprogram ourselves so we stop playing favorites. After all, that’s not a faith that works.

REFLECT
When has someone judged you based on a few pieces of information and treated you better, or worse, because of it?

PRAY
Lord, help me this week to clearly see why you hate favoritism and discrimination. Teach me how to see people differently. Amen.