Lesson 5 – How To Treat People Right

BOOK OF JAMES 

DEVELOPING A FAITH THAT WORKS

Lesson 5

HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old 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? ⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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 dishonored 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 blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? ⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right. ⁹ 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, “You shall not commit adultery, “also said, “You shall 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.” James 2:1-13

The Principle: Don’t Show

Ways We Show Favoritism

Three Problems with Showing Favoritism

1. Favoritism is .

“For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11

2. Favoritism is .

“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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?” James 2:5

3. Favoritism is .

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

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

The Prescription for How to Overcome Favoritism

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” Romans 15:7a

1. everybody.
2. everybody.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

everybody.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up . . .” 1 Thessalonians 5:11a