The Case You Can’t The Case You Can’t Afford to LoseAfford to Lose

James 2:1-13James 2:1-13

James 2:1-13 James 2:1-13 1 1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an an attitude ofattitude of personal favoritism. personal favoritism.2 2 For if a man comes into your assembly For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, man in dirty clothes, 3 3 and you pay special attention to the and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”over there, or sit down by my footstool,”

4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.11 For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

1212 So speak and so act as those who are  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by to be judged by thethe law of liberty. law of liberty.

1313 For judgment  For judgment will bewill be merciless to one merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.triumphs over judgment.

Bill Gates, $62.7billionBill Gates, $62.7billion

Warren Buffett, $45 billionWarren Buffett, $45 billion

Larry Ellison, $ 49.7 billionLarry Ellison, $ 49.7 billion

Wealth is not condemned-- Wealth is not condemned-- ignoring the poor is!ignoring the poor is!

Two Companion passages:Two Companion passages:

• Leviticus 19: 15Leviticus 19: 15

• Matthew 23:6Matthew 23:6

Outline of the passage:Outline of the passage:

James introduces a principle. 2:1James introduces a principle. 2:1

James illustrates the principle. 2:2-4James illustrates the principle. 2:2-4

James explains the principle. 2:5-11James explains the principle. 2:5-11

James applies the principle. 2:11-13James applies the principle. 2:11-13

Lowest income counties in Lowest income counties in the United States by per the United States by per capita incomecapita income

Number of counties by state in the 100 poorest Number of counties by state in the 100 poorest countiescounties: Texas, 17; Kentucky, 16; Mississippi, : Texas, 17; Kentucky, 16; Mississippi, 14; South Dakota, 10; Louisiana, 5; Alabama, 4; 14; South Dakota, 10; Louisiana, 5; Alabama, 4; Georgia, 4; Montana, 4; Georgia, 4; Montana, 4; New Mexico, 4New Mexico, 4; North ; North Dakota, 3; Arizona, 2; Idaho, 2; Nebraska, 2; Dakota, 3; Arizona, 2; Idaho, 2; Nebraska, 2; Tennessee, 2; West Virginia, 2; Alaska, 1; Tennessee, 2; West Virginia, 2; Alaska, 1; Arkansas, 1; Colorado, 1; Florida, 1; Missouri, 1; Arkansas, 1; Colorado, 1; Florida, 1; Missouri, 1; Oklahoma, 1; South Carolina, 1; Utah, 1; Oklahoma, 1; South Carolina, 1; Utah, 1; Wisconsin, 1. Wisconsin, 1.

Twenty-six states do not have any counties in the Twenty-six states do not have any counties in the 100 poorest counties.100 poorest counties.

An estimated 1.4 billion An estimated 1.4 billion people survive on incomes people survive on incomes of $1.25 or less a day.of $1.25 or less a day.

• 80 percent of the 20 poorest 80 percent of the 20 poorest countries have suffered a major countries have suffered a major war in the past 15 years war in the past 15 years

• The new poorest country in The new poorest country in Africa is now Zimbabwe, with a Africa is now Zimbabwe, with a GDP of $200 per capita. GDP of $200 per capita.

Seeing others from God’s Seeing others from God’s perspective: perspective:

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." anointed stands here before the LORD." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:6-7 NIV)16:6-7 NIV)

Consider:Consider:

• The sin of prejudice effects us all in The sin of prejudice effects us all in some form or fashion. some form or fashion.

• The first time you compared yourself The first time you compared yourself to anyone you are showing prejudice.to anyone you are showing prejudice.

• Repentance is the only answer to sin.Repentance is the only answer to sin.