Transforming Trials is an amazing Bible study written by my good friends, Mason and Marina Shelton.
Week 4 Day 3 focuses on James 2: 1-4
Mason and Marina’s launching pad statement: On Day One, we saw that those who are rich should take pride in their humiliation. James gives instruction to the church not to show favoritism to the rich unbelievers because of their social status.
James hits favoritism today. This is a hard day. Well in all honesty, it may not be! The Sheltons really call us out! It’s not the Sheltons but God uses them to plate this sin in a way that we are able to look at it and see it mirrored in our own lives. I find myself asking questions of my own life as I read this passage. Have I become a judge and “placing” the rich in their place and I “place” the poor man at my foot stool? We “place” people in places we deem them worthy of! I have to get ahold of this is my own life. After yesterday, I don’t want even a smidgen of this in my life. This shows the immaturity shows my heart is not pure and not clean. I make distinctions in ways I have not the knowledge to do so. Have we walked in this sin all our lives? Are we careful to deal with the sins that show and let the heart one’s slide?
Low position people are actually in a high position with the Lord. When we make distinctions based on what we see, we miss relationships with people who could lift us up in the faith.
For in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ hav put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. – Galatians 3:26-29 (KJV)
Some take-away “one liners” I see from Mason and Marina for Week 4 day 3 are listed below:
“Find a sticky note, write “favoritism” on it, then stick it to your Bible. When you see that note at church on Sunday, look around you. Is there anyone new? Is there anyone sitting int he corner? This is where we must “do the word” Introduce yourself to them and tell them that you are thankful that they came to worship this morning.”
“If we begin to show preference to prospective church members that have other secondary external factors (like race, social status, economic status, or even political affiliation), those things will take over and choke out the gospel of Jesus.”
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