James Week 5 - Walk It Out

"I really liked him," excitedly stated my husband about a guy we just met who we would be doing some ministry work with. I answered curtly, "why?" You see this man was covered in tattoos. I was so distracted by them that I failed to see his heart. My husband on the other hand saw how this man was of good character. My husband did not judge. If it was not for my husband I would have missed out on working with an amazing person. I judged. I did not give it a second thought and I would have cut this person off if it was not for the mercy and wisdom of my man.



Listen for preparation. Appropriate for our study.

James warns us of this behavior. James 2:1-12 is our passage for this week. Again I recommend you just read it every day take it in slowly and just really think about the passage. Ask who it is talking about? How it can apply to your life? How your life needs to agree with it?  This is how Scripture is alive and active to change us and make us more like Jesus.

We ended last week by learning real god-fearing worship is taking care of those who are weak and keeping ourselves from being stained by the world. Chapter two starts with a question that helps us with this further. Remember this is a letter and when James wrote it it did not have chapters and breaks. The question that opens this week is,
"My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?"

That is a question that makes me say ouch! I am not sure if I know anyone who has not ever favored someone except Jesus. It is a good question to make us evaluate our hearts. Then readjust them. Do you have an example to share with the group like my example above? If so please share and how God changed you.

Then James goes on to give an example about people coming into a meeting and how we judge and treat them. That this is evil motives when we have favorites. (Read James 2:2-4).

Looking at both of these photos of women you could meet on the street. Would you invite both of these women into your home? Would you take the time to get to now either? Why or why not?

Then it goes on to state how the poor are blessed. Remember us discussing this in James 1:9? James 2:5 says, "Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?" Interesting too that Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount that blessed were the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3).

Essentially the poor of this world have more opportunity to trust than the rich. It is really easy for someone who is rich to think that they have earned their own way. It does not facilitate the dependence that being more needy does. A humility comes with that and in it a dire need for God. It is indeed a blessing. I am finding this to be true in my personal weakness. People will often look at me and think what good can come from this chronic illness? However I believe I have been chosen by God to be dependent on Him in this way. I experience more intimacy with Him this way so if this is the best way for this I would not change a thing. I am surrendered to Him.

Then in contrast James goes on to say about the rich, "But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?" James 2:6-7. Remember what we spoke about in James 1:10-11 regarding the rich?

The rich man's heart can often be divided and drawn toward money. Because of this even though they have lots of money they will still sue and wrongly treat others for more of it. They cannot get enough. They will chose money over other things like relationships. It can easily become an idol in their hearts. A great reason not to favor the rich over the poor. Everything boils down to matters of the heart. How is someones heart on the matter? There are rich people whose hearts love God more than money. The meaning of this passage is do not judge based on outward appearance.

Then he goes on in verses 8 and 9 to admonish something good that may be used as an argument for treating the rich better than the poor however he stomps it out quickly because if you love your neighbor as yourself it will not only be your rich neighbor you love but your poor one as well. Not only those who can do things for you but those who cannot repay you either.

It is important to keep the Scriptures which are the royal law because we are children of the high King. However just because we are children of the king of the universe it does not give us the right to favor some over others. We are only what we are because God has called us. It has nothing to do with us. If we show favoritism to some over others the word says we are actually committing sin.You are breaking God's law.

(Regarding vv10-11) Have you ever thought, well I have done all things right but this one little thing so I am okay. Or I have kept all parts of the law but have stolen this one thing so I am ok. Or I only told one lie so I am okay. This is not true before a holy God. Sin is sin. Before a holy God none can be justified. All sin has a price that needs to be paid. Of course Christ came to pay that price so in Him we are made clean. We are justified fully if we trust in what He has done for us. So take His law seriously. Not legalistically or licentiously but seriously in love. He has finished and paid that debt.

We end with a powerful verse. Verse 13 states, "There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you." In the ESV version the verse is stated like this, "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

These are some hard verses. In the context we have just been talking about favoritism and giving rich people a break over the poor. God really dislikes this. If you read the full counsel of Scripture you will see over and over again God is for the underdog. He protects them and calls them blessed and takes them under His wing. When the strong take advantage of the weak it is not ok. Here God is calling people to show mercy. Remember this letter is written to the underdog. People who have been dispersed. People driven from their comfortable homes. People under threat of persecution. Yet still God is calling for mercy. He is still saying mercy is better than judgment. Earlier on too we learned that our anger never brings about the righteousness of God. God is the only true and righteous judge. We must trust Him at His word. So how do we live mercifully?

1-For these people it was probably a relief because to them they were judged pretty harshly and this was probably a sense of justice for them knowing God sees and God is the judge and He will take care of all the injustice done to them.

2-They were not to take judgment into their own hands. Living it out "mercy" which is better actually means - kindness or good towards the miserable or afflicted, joined with a desire to help them (blueletterbible.org).

This teaching was also not new because Jesus also taught this concept in the sermon on the mount. Matthew 7:2 states, "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." Honestly, why would you go about judging other people when there is so much in your own life that you need to work on? Maybe those who do so much judging are actually afraid to look into their own hearts. Either that or their hearts are hardened. I am not talking about an occasional judgment I am talking about those people who habitually judge others.


Also, one last thing Jesus did also tell us to love our enemies. This is indeed an upside down kingdom. Only by His supernatural power can we love that way. Look to Jesus. Follow His ways. Let His Spirit that dwells within us who are His guide us in this for nothing is impossible with Him.


1-Where are you prone to be judgmental of others? 


2-How has God made you dependent on Him alone?


3-We all have kinds of personalities that are hard to love. How can we pray for you in this?


4-Where have you involved yourself in ministries of mercy toward others? Would you share with the group? An example is instead of judging a homeless person for sitting on the street you volunteer at the homeless shelter. Mercy triumphs judgment. We don't know that persons story and even if they are lazy they still need the love of Christ. They still need mercy.


5-Practice extending mercy this week.