Posted by
T.A. on Monday, August 10, 2009 4:14:42 PM
Evil Thoughts Of Partiality
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ’sit her at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:1-4 (NKJV).
It seems that there is partiality or favoritism shown in almost every area of life. Sometimes it even gets into families. One place that it should not be is within the gatherings and assemblies of the Church. It should not be among family members either, but it happens.
There are not too many parents who would admit to showing favoritism to one child over another, but it happens, none the less. Not too many churches would admit to showing favoritism or partiality among members of its congregation, but it still happens. If there is one place where partiality should be anathema it should be within every local Christian congregation.
It is really a sad indictment on the Christian when we are more impressed with a “gold ring” and “fine apparel”, and we start giving special seating arrangements for people when we meet. Wealth in itself is not evil. It can be a blessing or a curse. It is most likely a curse to most people who have it. A woman by the name of Dorothy Parker said, “If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people He gave it to.” I think there is supposed to be some humor in that. There are many people who receive wealth and don’t know what to do with it, ie., how to manage it - handle it; and they get it through gambling, the lottery, familty inheritance; sudden wealth, and in a short time they are bankrupt.
I never want to be accused of cursing wealth, or the wealthy. These people are no better, or no worse than the rest of us. As has been said, “They put their pants on the same way we do. One leg at a time”. When it comes to those who have wealth in the church they cannot be praised, admired, given seats or places of authority, just because of their wealth. Too many leaders in churches hate to even carry out Biblical discipline upon a member who has been living immorally, violated the churches covenant, or turned away from serving in the church, because “…their tithes and offerings is what supports the church”. Since when is the church held together by the wealth of a member of the church.
If you will note in the Scripture above one of the things James gives us to consider when speaking of the way we would treat the poor is when he says to him, “Sit at my footstool”. It is a subservient thing, as to say “You are no better than my servant”.
“…Judges with evil thoughts” and evil intentions. When we start judging our church members or attenders by their “gold rings” and “fine apparel”, then it is because we have evil intentions. We are set to try and get what we want out of this rich individual, and make the poor be our servants. The poor man or woman just might be more godly, and the better servant of the Lord than the wealthy individual. Let us who are children of God, who are church leaders; whether pastors, deacons, elders, teachers; never give more favor to the wealth of any individual, but let us rather see each individual’s worth before God.
-by Tim A. Blankenship