TREAT EVERYONE EQUALLY

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

REVIEW Jame's message concerning partiality and ways to avoid it; REFLECT on the full message of the phrase "love your neighbor as yourself"; and INVESTIGATE ways we might discriminate against groups or individuals and find methods to instead demonstrate the love of God. 

FOCAL VERSES James 2:1-13

KEEP IN MIND 

 "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?" (James 2:5).

AT-A-GLANCE

1. Practicing Faith in Personal Interactions (James 2:1-7)

2. Living in Faithfulness to Our Faithful God (vv. 8-13)

IN FOCUS STORY

Standing before the congregation in his freshly laundered white robe that he reserved for when the church took communion, Elder Thomas gave the Call to Discipleship. Two men came down to the aisle to be saved.

One was well dressed; the other man was unkempt and appeared to be homeless.

The custom Elder Thomas had begun at the church was to welcome each person personally with a hug before they went to the pool. The unkempt man would reach him first and Elder Thomas knew he would have to hug him. His first thoughts was of his freshly laundered white robe. He was immediately convicted, repented, and fully embraced the man. 

Partiality contradicts loving one's neighbor as oneself. This lesson reminds us to treat everyone as Christ has treated us. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

James. Half brother of Jesus Christ. Wrote a letter to believers whose behavior contradicted their faith in Jesus Christ. 

BACKGROUND

The epistle of James is a letter written by James to remind those who had become prosperous about their foundations in the faith. The prosperous believers were identified by James has having "faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ" (from James 2:1, NLT). James used some examples from daily life to remind them of the commitment of faith they had made to Jesus Christ. James used himself as an example by first identifying himself as "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (from 1:1). James chose two illustrations to demonstrate how partiality and ill treatment of the poor become stumbling blocks to believers and can contradict our faith in Jesus Christ. 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What marks our confession of faith in Jesus Christ (James 2:1)?

2. What godly principles does our favoritism undermine (vv. 5-6a)?

3. What fault in logic does James point out (vv. 6b-7)?

4. What is the royal law (v.8)?

5. What is favoritism and what are we if we practice it (v. 9)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING 

1. How many reasons does James give in this passage for why we should not show favoritism? Are these things related?

2. Our show of favoritism and respect of people is a sign of inconsistency in our walk with Jesus Christ. What does James point to in these verses to show the consistency of God? 

3. In the In Focus story, Elder Thomas had a dilemma that he quickly overcame by the unction of the Holy Ghost. What would have happened had he hesitated to hug the man?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

Injustice abounds in the United States and around the world. Differences in the way governments dole out dollars and service for education, health care, and housing are just a few of the blatant reminders of "man's inhumanity to man." If James 2 reminds us of our personal responsibility to not show respect of persons, does this passage also call us to speak out for the injustices we see being committed against "the least of these"? Why?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

1.What practical advice can you discern from this passage to help you evaluate your treatment of others and avoid partiality?

2. If after prayer and self reflection you find that you have discriminated against certain groups or individuals, what can you do to repent and demonstrate the love of God instead?

(Except from Apostolic Light P.A.W)