Siding with God's Enemies

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"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?" (James 2:6-7).

You can’t accomplish God’s purposes by siding with His enemies.

Favoritism has a way of blinding its victims to reality. James wrote of Christians who were trying to impress a rich man so they could benefit from his wealth and social status (vv. 2-3). The rich man represented the enemies of Christ, yet they gave him preferential treatment anyway. The poor man represented those whom God chose to be rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom, yet they treated him badly and dishonored him (v. 6). That's not only inconsistent, it's foolish! You can't accomplish God's purposes by siding with His enemies.

Some ungodly rich people tyrannized Christians by withholding their wages and even putting some to death (James 5:4-6). They forcibly dragged Christians to court to exploit them by some injustice or inequity. They blasphemed the fair name of Christ. The phrase "by which you have been called" (v. 7) speaks of a personal relationship. Typically new converts made a public proclamation of their faith in Christ at their baptism. From then on they were called "Christians," meaning, "Christ's own," "Christ's ones," or "belonging to Christ." So when people slandered Christians, they were slandering Christ Himself!

That anyone could overlook those evils and show favoritism to the enemies of Christ shows the subtle and devastating power of partiality. Today, the circumstances may be different, but the principles are the same. So for the sake of Christ and His people, remember the three reasons James gives for not showing partiality: You and your brothers and sisters in Christ are one with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the glory of God revealed (v. 1); God has chosen the poor to eternal riches (v. 5); and God has called you by His name (v. 7). If you desire to be like Christ, you cannot be partial. Be fair and impartial in all your interactions with others.

Suggestions for Prayer

Is there a personal or business relationship in which you are showing favoritism to gain some advantage for yourself? If so, confess it to the Lord and correct it right away.

For Further Study

Read Romans 15:5-7.

How should Christians treat one another? What impact will we have if we obey Paul's admonition?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[patriotfury]

Thanks for the post!

So true...

[Ponyexpress9790]

I have a personal question to ask. The book of James ends rather abruptly, do you think there might have been more to these particular writings and were lost? AKA another chapter? He starts with a greeting to whom ever is reading and there is no salutation like Paul and others. Such as “Christ be with you. Amen. “. I've been memorizing James and it seemed to me he would have written a salutation. Just wondering, haven't found anything on internet speculating about it.

[afsnco]

Depends upon whether or not you think God is Sovereign in the affairs of men. As a person who believes in God’s Sovereignty, I believe He would make available to us all of His Word He wants us to know. He is Almighty.

[metmom]

I don’t have any idea.

I never noticed but I’ll take a look later.

[Ponyexpress9790]

Reading James, it seems to me to be a list of specific points and instruction on how to respond and teach, as if he or the writer was taking notes on a sermon or during teaching and was put together as a collection to be taken and disseminated to other churches and not just to one church or region.