“Love Your Neighbor As Yourself”
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus
Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing
a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes
in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say,
“Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or
“Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and
become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen,
my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes
of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those
who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are
exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they
not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
If
you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as
yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are
convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
James 2:1-9
Do
you become a judge of people just because of how they dress, where they live
and whether they take a bus or drive a car?
Never
ever judge a person by their outward appearance. God rewards us for how we
treat other people, and some may even be considered outcasts.
In a
world that keeps the outcast at arm’s length, let’s show the love of Christ and
embrace the one who needs our care the most.
True
Christian love helps those who can’t return the favor.
Our Daily Bread –