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James 2:1-13
3 Distinctives of Christian Maturity
Introduction
All of the New Testament letters were written to Christians to help
them to mature in their faith in Christ. If we are going to mature (in
anything), we need to know what that state looks like, because “If
we aim at nothing, we'll hit it every time.”
In this passage, James supplies us with a snap-shot of part of what
it means to be a mature Christian. He describes three distinctives of
Christian maturity . . .
Values people's hearts more than their external appearance (vs 1-7)
Read verse 1. “Personal favoritism” is a poor translation.
It means literally “receive by face.” James is saying that evaluating
and classifying and treating people according to external matters is incompatible
with faith in Christ. He brings this up because they were engaged in a
practice which revealed that this is what they were doing.
Read vs 2-4. Their criterion for where they seat visitors is
solely external dress, which is invalid. Why? Because this is not a
reliable indicator of what is truly important about a person.
Read vs 5-6a. Many who are economically poor are nevertheless great
in God's eyes because they have received Christ and love him.
Read vs 6b-7. Many who are economically wealthy have no personal
respect for God at all and oppress his people.
It should be clear from this passage that instead of “judging a
book by its cover,” we should value what's on the inside of a person
more than what's on the outside. Specifically, people's attitude toward
God and their character should be primary is our assessment of others.
Why? Because this is the way God evaluates people.
This is where God looks when he decides who he will adopt as his children.
The Bible says that God doesn't really care what race or class you're
from, how famous or unknown you are, how many sins you've committed,
etc. If he sees in your heart a recognition of your need for his forgiveness
and a willingness to trust Christ to provide that forgiveness, he immediately
makes you his child forever (Romans 10:9-10?).
This is where God looks when he decides who he will make great in
his kingdom. When Israel wanted a king, God let them choose their own
first king. They people chose Saul because of external qualities—he
was handsome and tall. But because he lacked a heart committed to God,
he was a miserable failure as a leader. When God made his choice, he
selected David, not because of his physical appearance (he was just
a youth), but because he was “a man after God's own heart”—he
knew God personally and wanted to follow him (read 1 Samuel 16:7).
This remains God's priority in all of his dealings with his people (2 Chronicles 16:9).
If God values the inside more than the outside, so should we. There
are many lines of application for this principle.
One of the most distressing features of our culture is that its heroes
are chosen almost solely on the basis of external bases instead of internal
(“IMAGE IS EVERYTHING;” WEALTH; PHYSICAL APPEARANCE; SPORTS
COMPETENCE). This is distressing because cultural heroes not only reflect
our values; they also influence our values (VICIOUS CIRCLE). Who are
your heroes—and why?
By this criterion, Jesus—the greatest person who ever lived—was
a total failure (Isaiah 53:2).
This principle is also important when it comes to how the church selects
its leaders. Leaders are de facto models for other Christians: they
shape people's idea of what it means to be godly. According to the Bible,
it is imperative that character be the primary consideration in the
selection of leaders in the church (1 Timothy 3). Things like
good looks, monetary wealth and political power should simply not enter
into the selection of people for roles of leadership in the church.
Giftedness and competence have their proper place, but what is on the
inside is the key factor.
Sincerely seeks the good of others (vs 8)
Read verse 8. James calls this the “royal law” (“the
law of the king”) because Jesus (the King) told us that it was one
of the two highest priorities of life (Matthew 22:39).
Notice that it doesn't say we must love ourselves before we can love
others. Many, by overlooking this, have turned this command into a mandate
for loving ourselves more. But it assumes that we love ourselves, and
calls us to love others in the same way in the same way that we love
already ourselves.
How do we love ourselves? Not necessarily with emotional thrill, or
with constant satisfaction—but always sincerely seeking our good
and well-being as we understand these terms. We may be off sometimes
about how we define that good, we may choose imperfect ways to seek
that good, but we always relate to ourselves with this intent.
Given my very real limitations in understanding and resources, am
I cultivating the habit of viewing them and treating them with this
goal in mind? According to the Bible, this is the most critical component
in my interactions with other people. If I relate to people with this
intent, many other mistakes will probably be overlooked (1 Peter 4:8).
But if I am failing to grow in this ability, I am a failure in life
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3)!
The beauty of this command is that it covers so many situations. Rather
than memorizing a big, thick rule book about how to act in different situations,
we need only ask “What promotes the good of this person?” This
makes things simpler, but not easier. Here are some of the questions I
ask myself along these lines.
When correcting my children, is it to really teach them something
they need to know, or is it only to control their behavior because they're
bugging me?
When dialoguing with my spouse about an issue on which we disagree,
do I communicate respect by really listening and trying to understand
their point of view, or do I only debate or emotionally threaten to
get my way?
Do I give to others freely, or with strings? Do I help people to develop
their talents/abilities so that they can fulfill their own calling and
potential, or only so they can pull my wagon?
Am I willing to speak up on behalf of someone that is being treated
unjustly, or do I keep quiet to save myself possible attack?
Do I show courtesy and kindness to others, and sincerely apologize
when I realize I hurt them, or do I minimize these things as unimportant?
We all know the world would be a much better place if we treated each
other this way, and probably all of would like to relate to others this
way. But why is it so difficult? Because only God can inspire us and motivate
us and teach us how to relate to other people in this way (1 John 4:10-11,
16a, 17a).
In the following verses, James supplies us
with another application of this principle . . .
Shows mercy to offenders (vs 9-13)
Mercy is a synonym for forgiveness. It doesn't have anything to do with
relativizing or minimizing the wrong done. It means choosing to not pay
someone back for the wrong they have done to you.
Mercy is absolutely necessary in close relationships like marriage,
because people are fallen and will hurt you. If you don't learn how
to show mercy, you will destroy the relationship with your “pay
backs” (SILENT TREATMENT; OUTBURST OF ANGER; CRITICAL SPIRIT).
Mercy is just as necessary toward those who have hurt you deeply but
are no longer involved in your life. Unless you learn to forgive these
people, the bitterness in your heart will spill over into other relationships
and poison your life.
James indicates that the key to maintaining an attitude of mercy toward
others is to remember what we really deserve from God and how he has responded
to us. Although he is difficult to follow, this is his point in vs 9-13.
When it comes to keeping God's law, I always fall short in one way
or another (vs 9-11). Regardless of how well I do compared to other
people in certain areas, I have still failed utterly to pass God's requirement,
whose evaluation matters most. Because I am a transgressor of God's
law, I deserve his condemnation.
Yet God is prepared to grant me mercy. This is what it means to be
“judged by the law of liberty.” God sets me free from his
condemnation. He is able to do this because Christ's death satisfies
my debt to God if I have received this forgiveness as a gift (GOSPEL).
It is in this sense that mercy triumphs over justice. God has found
a way to grant me mercy and still satisfy his justice.
Therefore, I should treat others with mercy. It is utterly inconsistent
for me to be unmerciful to others when God has been so merciful to me.
If I say I am incapable of showing mercy to others, I am saying I have
never received God's mercy.
Ephesians 4:32—The most consistent thing that a Christian
can do is to forgive those who have sinned against him. How are you
doing at this?
Copyright 1993 Gary DeLashmutt
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