James Series - How Do You Measure?

                   

How Do You Measure?

James 2:1-13

As I have been studying the Word this week, I came across the concept of unequal weights, “Differing weights and differing measures— the Lord detests them both.” (Prov. 20:10) 

God’s Word is the weight that never changes, it is the standard that we weigh all our thoughts, behaviors, directions, and life by. James is confronted by and confronting the church about the use of differing weights when treating people, especially in the church. So let’s read the first portion of the text. “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 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. 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,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” 

James sees the unequal treatment of the wealthy and the poor. He knows that God doesn’t show favoritism, He treats everyone the same, they are all weighed according to the Word, and by His love and mercy. God doesn’t play the prejudice and discriminating game, or the segregating on the basis of economic status. God sees His creation as just that His creation, dearly loved. But the people had an issue of using unequal weights in their treatment of people. 

James knew the people were to be treated by God’s standard of weight, His Word. In His Kingdom in Heaven, all creations are treated fairly and as valued because He loves everyone and doesn’t show favoritism. James knew that God’s kingdom had not been established on the earth because of the rejection by the jewish people, but He had established the body of Christ, the Church, to whom His Son is the head (Eph.1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:12-27), and all the parts are of equal value. God doesn’t rate the body parts of the church according to wealth or status, but as one with the head, Christ Jesus. 

So when he began to see the people’s discrimination and prejudice, He brought up the issue as with differing weights.

Application - In a modern world of segregation, indifference, and discrimination based on our earthly finite human values systems. We see chaos, anger, hatred, vengeance, warring, and killing. Even in the churches there are divisions among racial lines even today. I have had the privilege to have worked with many churches in my forty years walking with Jesus. Some are accepting and others are rigid. I have seen the bringing of street children to a large church that didn’t really want them in their church. I have seen the removal of homeless people from a service because they smelled. Or a young skateboarder who stood out in a church parking lot, when I asked why he didn’t come in, he said that he didn’t have the right clothes to wear for this church. 

So what measuring weight do we use when we look or act with others? God’s Word said Jesus came for the lost, the poor, and for the sinner. He came to set the captives to sin free, to heal the blind and to give liberty to those that are bound and bruised by the enemy of God, Satan. This all comes through the proclamation of the Gospel, the Good News. That there is a Kingdom in Heaven, and God the Father who loves them very much (John 3:16-17). We are not weighed by the differing weight of this world, but by the Word of God that never changes (immutable) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35), the Truth which is never wrong and is absolute (infallible) (Psalms 19:7-8), and is permanently established by God (inherent) (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19). It is this weight which is the standard of God that He uses on us, asking us to use it with each other (love and forgiveness). "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13 (NIV) , and will judge us with. “There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.” (John 12:48) 

Next, James wants the church to listen to God’s word about our treatment of others. Let’s read the next portion of the text. “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? 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? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”

The Jerusalem church had its share of poor people who had lost much in the persecution of the church, no jobs or housing because of their faith in Jesus. James reminds the church that in the Kingdom of Heaven each is promised equality and no discrimination on the basis of economic, or racial prejudice, and they are to practice this here on earth. Earlier in the book of Acts chapter seven, the Jerusalem church had run-ins and arguments over rationing of the food to the poor and the widows and between racial lines of Israelite Jews and Hellenistic Jews as well. So James and the twelve apostles went to God and His Word to resolve the issues by wisdom from the Holy Spirit. It was this spiritual wisdom James was imploring upon the church to heed the Word of God not just hear the words. 

They were all saved by grace through faith and the works that came from obedience to the Word of God were evidence of their faith. The poor were as rich as the wealthy when it came to salvation. But in the dishonoring of the poor in the seating in the church services, the people were catering to the rich in order to acquire favor, thus discriminating. James knew that the rich were using the poor in a servitude/master manner. There were even court battles over the exploitation of the poor and the poor people’s resistance to servitute via racial inequality. To cap off the verbal malays in the church and the escalation of their sinfulness, the congregants blaspheme the name of Jesus among each other and in their acts before the whole city, thus bringing the name of God and His Son into dishonored just as the Israelites sins had in the past ages, dishonored God amongst the world.

Application - The Word of God through the Holy Spirit to James states that all who have believed in  Christ as Lord and Savior have inheritance in the Kingdom of God. They are all equally wealthy in the spiritual riches in the salvation of God given to the Church. On earth, we are to enact on this inheritance here as well. Jesus told us that we would have the poor amongst us that we were to meet the need as we had abilities, and to enact with them. “He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14) 

Even today, the church needs to be cognizant and reachout to the poor, but not with just social and physical needs, but to share the Good News and to love them as God loves us. If we succumb to going to court to settle matters of the faith, we are lost and without understanding of God’s Word and the intent of His Church to be His hands, feet, and mouth in this world. As Paul said,  “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Rom. 10:12-17) and (1 Cor. 6:1-8). 

Lastly, James led the church to address the very commandments that Jesus had told all believers to obey. They were to “'... love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. ' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. '’’ (Mark 12:30-31) and they were to obey the Lord's command to the church, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34)

Let’s read the last portion of the text, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 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. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James brought the law of Moses back into the practice of the church, to show the sinfulness of their actions. They were saved by grace through faith, evidenced by their work, or not. James again pointed out God's love and character, “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe” “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Deut. 10:17; Psalms 86:15). 

James knew that they were no longer under the law as pertaining to salvation, but they were to keep the law as to obedience to God. He stated, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” He may have remembered the teaching by Jesus on the mount of beatitudes. For those who show mercy will be blessed and receive mercy and the measurement of mercy in judgment will be in accordance with the measure they used in judgment. 

Application - We still need to heed the law of God, not in the realm of salvation, but in the obedience to God. Jesus had told the religious leaders that the law was summed up in two verses. “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40)

This is the standard weight of our Lord and Savior, our God. When the church or people use favoritism, discrimination, and human law as their retense to fulfilling God’s will and purpose, they are using varying weights, because they decide in their hearts and minds what is right and just. But with God, he uses the weight of love, righteousness, and impartial justice. For He sees everyone as His creation, and weighs the outcome on their choices and obedience to His Word. He will give mercy and freedom to all who will believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and he will weigh us at the end by our faith, love, and works and award accordingly.

So let us love the Lord our God with all our hearts, mind, strength, and soul, and love our neighbors as we want to be loved. The golden rule, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 7:12)

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today. Thank you http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com