Honor Sees Deep

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to visit orphans and widows.., and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 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?.. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom..? But you have dishonored the poor man…

“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.” James 1:27-2:6,8-9

“The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Holding the faith bears out in all areas of life. James urges his readers demonstrate authentic faith within by practical living that honors God and His people. He points out how inner attitudes manifest in outer behavior, that pure and undefiled religion is displayed in the ways we treat others.

The world grabs and plays with our senses in a myriad of ways, often confusing purity with emotional attraction, righteousness with euphoria. We’re drawn to please the senses and stroke our own feelings of importance to the detriment of Christ-like perception and genuine care. To prefer anyone because of appearance is to discount the true worth of God’s image-bearers. We distort reality when we use false measures, a ploy that delights Satan and disparages God and His people. Is this our subconscious default, to be so taken by the world that it dictates our treatment of others?

Where do these warnings pierce? Is the Spirit poking a familiar practice we’d rather not admit? What are we to do when we recognize our dishonor, and pride is exposed? Humbling ourselves before the Almighty and acknowledging the truth of things is a healthy start. (Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Matthew 5:43-45; John 13:34; Ephesians 2:8–9; James 4:4-10)

How might we look more deeply into Jesus’s eyes, and through Him see ourselves and those around us? What false superiority and arrogance does His holiness expose? Where are we making cursory assessments that affect how we treat or cause us to debase other people? What prejudices do we carry, what caustic criticism or condescension has ingrained itself in our attitudes and actions? When will we name these affronts to God and begin to replace them with renewed thinking and specific blessing to all made in His image? (Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:5,12-14)

Lord, may I honor You by honoring those You’ve made, thus lavishing them with the infinite love and worth with which You lavish me.