Scripture: James 2:1-4, James 2:8-12, Matthew 6:1-4,
Matthew 23:1-12
In today’s teaching from the Book of James, we will
be considering three lessons which actually fit together very well. The first is in regards to the way we treat
and show respect to others, the second, is about humility in our life with
others, and the third has to do with our discernment of the ways and words of others.
And in reality, these three have a lot to do with
the effect that personal pride has on the life we live, and how we see
ourselves when we claim authority over the lives of others. Today’s selected verses are, without a doubt,
a comparison between the attitudes that are so prevalent in the world, versus
those that we are called to exhibit as disciples of Jesus Christ. Its all about where and how we choose to
place value on the gifts that we have been blessed with.
The last two lessons will be very direct and will be
ones that come specifically from Jesus Himself.
In Matthew 7:2, the Lord gives us
this commandment – “1Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be
judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This is one of those commands that, if we
think about it every time we begin to speak, I expect that we all would wind up
saying very little! Judgment depends on
our focus – both inwardly toward our own lives, and outwardly toward the lives
of others.
Without
actually saying it, the Lord is calling us to be decerning in what we
hear, see, and experience, and to leave the judging of its righteousness nature
completely up to Him. So let’s begin
with James.
Read James 2:1-4
In Leviticus 19, the
Lord has given Moses the words to explain what the Commandments are all about,
and if a common theme could be developed form those verses, it very well might be
a very familiar passage from John 13:33-35 - “34 A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
As we consider the words that
James has given us, consider whether this man was truly showing love to both
the wealthy man and the poverty-stricken man, or not. Were they receiving comparable affection and
respect? Obviously not! Did each deserve the honors, or lack thereof,
that they were being granted? No – and
perhaps that’s the point that both Jesus and James were making! We don’t get to decide what it takes for God
to regard us as worthy of His glory! He
doesn’t consider the things we do as the pivotal point of goodness! Instead, it all hinges upon our heart’s
desire and our life’s intent.
It can never be acceptable
for one of Christ’s followers to measure a person’s life from a worldly
perspective! When we love others in the
same way that Jesus has loved us, it can never be about what is deserved. It never was and never will be! It never was for Jesus and it never should be
for us – it was always about how much He had to give to others and not how much
they had earned! And this standard
should be the same for us. Love must
always be a measure of no less than all that we have to give.
Read James 2:8-12
Apparently, any amount of
love that falls short of what Jesus would show is a sin! Discrimination is nothing short of being
unloving and divisive. Again, from
Leviticus 19, we get the command that Jesus tells us is like the greatest
command of all – “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 20:25-28) And as with all of Jesus’ teachings, when we
fail to love as Jesus loved, we haven’t turned against the commandment,
but rather against the One who gave us the command. And when showing favoritism toward one person,
and taking honor away from another, we have denied them both the love of God.
In verse 12, you may be
wondering what point James is making when he uses the phrase “the law that
gives freedom”. In this context, the
word “freedom” implies that all obstacles that stand in the way of God’s mercy
have been removed, and that those who have that freedom have had all
condemnation lifted from their souls. It
isn’t that we are now free to do as we wish, but rather that we are free to do
what is right in the eyes of God.
The word “freedom” also
points toward the attitude that the Church holds for all people, regardless of
who they may be or what they have done. If
we ever put obstacles in the way of others to attend and join us in worship, or
service, or study, or prayer, or fellowship, or any other aspect of the church,
then we will have interfered with their ‘freedom” to celebrate and
immerse themselves in the hope of Christ.
We have been charged with the administration of freedom for all
who would come to Jesus for life, truth and love.
Read Matthew 6:1-4
These verses are supplements
to the ones we just considered – it isn’t only how we treat others, but rather
what is behind our attitude for doing them.
This is what the prophet was telling us in Micah 6:8 – “8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is
good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act
justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
You see, it isn’t just the “doing” of what God asks of us that shows
love, but, just as important in Christian love, is the how and why we are doing
it.
This passage from Matthew’s
gospel is specifically about the Jewish tradition of giving alms and other
gifts to the poor. Jesus, in this
section of His Sermon on the Mount, is telling the thousands who were gathered
there that day that if they give to the poor and infirm, without a heart’s
desire and love in the giving, it may help the person for a day, and it may
even make us look good in the eyes of the world, but without a Godly attitude
in the giving, it will be meaningless as far as the LORD is
concerned!
Whenever we reach out to help
another, it can never become a reason for bragging about how generous we are,
or how much God loves us for being such a marvelous giver, or how blessed the
gift itself may be. If we aren’t giving
with a heart for the Lord, if we aren’t giving God all the glory for what we
have given, we are, in essence, claiming all the glory for ourselves and it
will be a hollow offering at best.
Read Matthew 23:1-12
Again,
this passage is also about our attitudes as we serve and lead in the Church,
and Jesus wanted the people to look beyond the words that are spoken by the
learned of Israel. The attitude that was
so prevalent in that day was to gain as much for yourself as you possibly
could. Respect, honors, obedience, awe,
and admiration for what the teachers of that day were doing. Jesus might very well have inspired the
expression – “Do what they say, not what they do!” I don’t know if Jesus actually agreed with
all of their teaching, but He certainly didn’t agree with the life that they
were living!
Everything
that they did was to impress others, so they might gain in prestige and honor
from all who came to know them. And the
reference to “Moses’ seat” is a reference to the authority that they had
assumed, but which they themselves didn't feel that they had to follow! Jesus even denounced their striving for titles
of authority and mastery. He called them
out for claiming the highly respected title of “Rabbi”, instead of humbly
living as “brothers” in the community.
He criticized them for accepting the title of “father”, when they should
have asked to be known as “student”. And
they weren’t even to be called “Teacher”, but instead to choose the way of a
servant. Jesus was telling us that all
honors that have any meaning for our lives should come from God, not from the
world.
And
this brings us back to the words of Micah - act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with
your God. It will always be about how and
why we act, love, and serve, and never just in the doing. Next week, we will see why these words are so
vitally important in faith, and why attitude in our walk with Christ is so
important for all who claim the name and way of Jesus Christ.
