October 14, 2012 – Day 7

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, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do 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! ^[1]

In the preceding verses James argues that showing favoritism toward the wealthy is wrong for two principle reasons. First, “it contradicts God’s regard for the poor,” and second, “it makes no sense.” He now adds a third and more important reason; it violates God’s law of love. Quoting Leviticus 19:18, James challenges his readers’ attitude toward God’s law and in the process demonstrates that possession of skewed ideas toward sin is not new. Just as it is far too easy today to create hierarchies of sin it was also easy in James’ day. We think we are without sin because we do not participate in or commit certain sins. We feel good about ourselves because we are not guilty of the immorality that characterizes our society today, but sin is sin. If we are guilty of any sin we are just as guilty as the next person.

James makes his argument using the issue of his day in the church, showing favoritism of the wealthy over the poor. One was proud to boast of their holiness and righteousness because they were not adulterers and murderers, but still discriminated against the poor. In addressing the issue James alludes to the teaching of Jesus. Matthew records that an expert in the law came to Jesus asking what was the greatest commandment. Instead of listing the Ten Commandments, Jesus said that two things summarized the whole law: “love the Lord your God” and “your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39). These two commandments are connected. If one loves God they must love their neighbor. One can only love their neighbor if they love God. Therefore, showing favoritism violates that law of love.

Loving our neighbor keeps us from showing favoritism, discrimination and prejudice, but it does not equal acceptance of behavior that grieves the spirit of God. We should be careful that we do not allow a permissive society to pervert the clear meaning of scripture. We condemn that which violates the law of God but we still demonstrate to the world that which distinguishes us from all others: the love of God.

Dear Father, it is so easy for us to judge without showing mercy. We are guilty of showing partiality in how we relate one to another. Forgive our misplaced pride. Forgive us of looking down on those we consider lower. Help us today to love as You love us. Remind of us of the mercy You extend to us daily. Remind us of our sin that cries out for justice but that You have forgiven by showing us mercy. Thank you for the opportunity to show an unbelieving world who You are in how we love one another. Amen.