Be Impartial (James 2:1-13)

Sermon on 27 April 2025 by Pastor Gaius Lee

James 1:26-27 - “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

The orphans and widows refer to those who are defenseless and socially disadvantaged.

God wants us to take care of them and know that they exist around us. We should affect the world and not let the world affect our holiness. If you want to be impartial, we have to take care of this group of people.

James 2:14 - “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?”

James 2:1-13 - “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? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? 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? 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? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 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.”

When God told Prophet Samuel to look for another King of Israel, he went to Jesse’s house.

He looked prim and proper from the outward appearance, but God only chose the youngest one. We might be affected but God wants us to be intentional when we go for outreach. It should not be based on our judgement. God wants us to judge according to the word, but He doesn’t want us to be judgmental.

Why do some people show partiality?

• Pride, wanting to stay in our social status.

• Prestige, position, power.

• Passionless, loving only some neighbours

Don’t bargain with God about your good deeds. We may do many things in His name but not keep His commandment. Mercy means that we don’t deserve it but still receive it. Have mercy over everyone.

How to be impartial? We may unconsciously become partial when interacting with others.

Micah 6:8 - “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Mercy triumphs over judgement.

Matthew 23:23 - ““What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”

• Have justice

• Have mercy

• Be faithful

• Be humble

Matthew 25:44-45 - ““Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’”

These people did a lot of work but not in the will of God. It is easy to submit to someone higher than us. But are we able to submit to our subordinates? Submit to one another as it is the will of God.

Romans 12:16 - “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”

If we think that we have been unfairly treated, God wants to deal with us too.

How to respond to partiality?

• Position

• Peace

• Peaceable

• Remember the Promise

Isaiah 53:2-3 - “My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

Romans 12:17-21 - “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

James 2:5 - “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?”

If we belong to those who have, let’s remember to have justice, be merciful, faithful, and have humility. If we are lacking, let’s remember our position, have peace, be peaceable, and remember the promise of God.

Amen.