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Topic: Avoid Partiality
[DCLM Daily Manna 24 August 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: James 2:1-9 (KJV)
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
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9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Key Verse: “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons” (James 2:1).
MESSAGE:
We were all born the same way when we came to this world and we will go the same way when we die. There is no distinction between the birth or death of the poor or the rich. We shall all go naked to God as we came naked from Him.
Our passage passes a great warning to us as to how to avoid partiality in the house of God. We must see both the poor and the rich in the household of faith in the same way as God sees them.
The text points to the fact that we should avoid at all cost the sin of partiality in the church of God. We must not make a distinction between the rich and the poor. Wherever this is practised, the Spirit of God will depart. God’s love is impartial and He never allows any outward appearance to affect His relationship with us. He is God of the rich as well as of the poor. God is looking for humility, purity and righteousness in His Church. He looks at the proud from a distance.
The Bible injunction is: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”, whether they be poor or rich. It is better for a poor man to be rich in faith and become heir of His Kingdom. We must allow the love of God to dominate our hearts. This should be supreme in our hearts above other things. We may obey all the laws of hygiene but if we take in just a little poison we may die. So it is with the word of God. If we obey all but fail in one, we have invalidated all notwithstanding other good we may have done.
We must not judge anybody by his economic status but follow the royal law of our Lord Jesus Christ who treats us equally in spite of our status.
All men and women are equal before our All-seeing God.
The Bible In One Year: Psalm 24–30
