“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:1-9
There is great condemnation for those who see others through tainted lenses of favoritism or wrong assumptions. Jumping to conclusions with limited knowledge or prejudice borne of smugness, or based on appearance and not substance, is forbidden among brothers. Fulfilling God’s law means loving others as you love yourself, assuming only that they are of inestimable worth in God’s image.
Thinking ill of others and showing partiality poke weedy roots into attitude and expression. The less we guard our thought life and the more we practice unloving behavior, the more critical and mean-spirited we can become. We must beware the dangerous and repellent countenance.
Sometimes we assume the worst in others because of an unconscious knowledge of our own depravity. We might think so little of ourselves that we try to ameliorate self image or value by putting others down in comparison. We might repress ingrown or long-held shame and allow vitriol to take its place. We might harbor bitterness or jealousy that manifest themselves in uncharitable impulses. Opening the door of our minds and hearts to the light is the only way to see and accept God’s view of us, and then to see others rightly. (1 Samuel 16:7; John 8:32; 1 John 1:5-9)
Where are we making sloppy assumptions about others, assigning motives known only by God to their actions? Where do we impose the worst instead of the redemptive best on another’s intentions or behavior? Where are we blaming God for consequences rightly suffered? We will be found out. What will we do to align our thinking with God’s, and develop sincere gratitude and contentment? (Matthew 7:1-2; Hebrews 5:14; James 1:5)
Lord, give me eyes that I may see
With love and grace and honesty.
Infuse my heart with purity
That I think best of all I meet. (PEB)
“Oh, fill me with your fullness, Lord,
Until my very hearts o’erflows
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Your love to tell, your praise to show.” ~Frances Ridley Havergal (1872)
Lord, help me think as You do and judge with holy discernment and whole desire to bless others and bring You glory.
As the rain and snow 