SOUNDING A CALL TO SALVATION, SOBRIETY, WATCHFULNESS, FIDELITY AND BROTHERLINESS IN VIEW OF OUR LORD'S RETURN
 
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STUDIES IN JAMES

By Eugene Garner

CHRISTIAN TREATMENT OF OTHERS

Scripture Lesson: James 2:1-13.

        INTRODUCTION: One of the most severe criticisms made against Jesus by the Jews was that He ate with Publicans and sinners. The religionists in His day loathed the idea that all men should be treated as creatures of God's own hand - potential sons of God. Racial descent, the color of their skin, the quality of clothing they wore and a similarity of ideas, were some of the standards used to determine whether people were acceptable. Even so great a Christian as Simon Peter was amazed to discover that "God is no respecter of persons", (Acts 10:34).
        This epistle of James seems to suggest that the art of treating others as Christ would have treated them is one of the hardest of all things - even for Christians to learn. What, then, is the Christian way of treating one's fellow man - whether he be a brother, a foreigner or a bum?

I. OUR TREATMENT OF OTHERS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH A SINCERE FAITH IN CHRIST, (vs. 1-4).
  1. SAVING FAITH IS A VIGOROUS, ACTIVE, POWERFUL QUALITY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, (Heb. 11;6; 12:2; Gal. 5:6). Our Lord Himself has set us an example.

    1. Nothing can be substituted for it.

    2. Nor must anything be permitted to hamper or dilute it.

  2. WE DARE NOT TRY TO JOIN THE FAITH OF CHRIST TO ANY SORT OF CLASS PREJUDICE, (Deut. 10:17-19; Eph. 3:8-9).

    1. Faith and prejudice will not mix any more than obedience and sentimentality.

    2. Any ignoring of this principle will lead to confusion and doubt. ("Are ye not divided in your mind?") Doubt is the opposite of faith.

    3. Nor will it be long before our judgment will be warped.
      1. We will be like a judge who accepts a bribe, ( II Chron. 19:6-7). This principle is as true for us as for them. Leniency and permissiveness, rooted in a cheap sentimentality, is as much perversion of judgment as are harshness and a cold adherence to the mere "letter" of the law.
      2. We will have substituted doubt for faith and sentiment for love. Instead of growth will come deterioration; prejudice will have contaminated our lives.

    4. James illustrates how this can happen by telling of two men who appear at the place of worship.
      1. Respect is paid to the one who is bejeweled and clothed in fine raiment, but the poor man who is shabbily clothed is despised and humiliated.
      2. Why is this permitted to happen? Is it not because we too often cater to man's wealth? Or to the color of his skin?
      3. But, is this a Christian attitude? (Isa. 11:2-5)
        1. 1) May one accurately judge true riches from what is observable on the outside? Are not these inner qualities? (John 7:24; Lev. 19:15-18).
          2) Do not the riches of the Kingdom belong to those who manifest a true faith.
          3) What a person is, or what he may become is the thing that really matters; we cannot determine this by what he is wearing.
          4) Therefore, we must learn to treat all men as potential sons of God; each must be dealt with according to the Word of God. To do less is a contradiction of the faith we profess. And let us not forget to make this application with reference to a variation of skin pigmentation as well as to rich and poor, (Zech. 7:8-14).
II. OUR TREATMENT OF OTHERS MUST HARMONZE WITH GOD'S REVELATION OF HUMAN WORTH, (James 2:5-7).
  1. "HEARKEN MY BELOVED BRETHREN" IS A CALL TO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF AN IMPORTANT MATTER.

    1. Such perversion of judgment as James charges against them is contrary to God's estimate of man's worth, (Job 34:18-19).

    2. It was for all that Christ died!

  2. GOD'S "ELECTION", OF A SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR HIS SERVICE, IS NOT DETERMINED BY EXPENSIVE JEWELRY, MAGNIFICIENT CLOTHING, OR THE COLOR OF ONE'S SKIN.

  3. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE CHOSEN FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD ARE POOR, AS REGARDS THEIR EARTHLY POSSESSIONS, (I Cor. 1:27).

    1. But they are rich in faith, (I Tim. 6:17-19; contrast: Luke 12:21; Heb. 2:9).

    2. They have been promised a Kingdom, (Matt. 5:3; 25:34-40).

    3. We must be careful that we do not hold in contempt those who have been promised the Kingdom, (James 1:12).

  4. RICHES TEND TO DEGENERATE MEN. Rich men often:

    1. Oppress the people of God.

    2. Drag the people of God into court, (Acts 8:3; 16:19).

    3. Rob the poor Christian of his possessions.

    4. Blaspheme the holy name by which we are known, (I Peter 4:16; Acts 5:41; 28:22).
III. OUR TREATMENT OF OTHERS MUST BE IN HARMONY WITH THE ROYAL LAW OF LOVE, (2:8-9; comp Matt. 7:12).
  1. "THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF" IS ROYAL IN QUALITY - and is given by heaven's Royal Ruler.

    1. It governs His actions, as well as being the law by which He governs, (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Heb. 12:6).

    2. The servant of Jesus Christ does well when he obeys this law, (I John 4:7; see: John 13:2-20).

    3. To be saved means to be brought into the realm of love, where all relationships are governed by love, (I John 4:16; 3:14).

    4. Love cannot abide in the presence of prejudice and pride; be it of class, of race, or of position; it triumphs over them all. (Luke 10:30-37).

  2. TRANSGRESSORS ACCORDING TO THE LAW, (Deut. 1:17; Prov. 28:21).

    1. It is a tragedy for Christians to be governed by the same low impulses that govern transgressors, (I Peter 4:3-5).

    2. But, this is what happens when a Christian is guilty of partiality or discrimination, or any other action that exalts one man while degrading another.

    3. By such conduct one condemns himself before the bar of justice!
IV. OUR TREATMENT OF OTHERS MUST BE DONE WITH THE JUDGMENT BAR OF GOD IN VIEW, (2:10-13; Col. 3:25; I Peter 1:17).
  1. WE MUST NEVER IMAGINE THAT OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS IS INSIGNIFICANT.

    1. Though we may not be guilty of murder, adultery, or a hundred other things, a single infraction makes us a lawbreaker; thus, guilty before God, (Gal. 5:3; Rom. 2:25; Matt. 5:19).

    2. Take a large piece of glass and strike it at one point with a hammer; the whole will be shattered. So it is with the law of God.

  2. BY PRACTICING LOVE TOWARD ALL MEN, WE WILL BE FULFILLING THE LAW OF LIBERTY, (James 1:25; Gal. 5:1, 13; John 8:32; Rom. 8:2).

    1. Then there will be nothing to fear in judgment.

    2. Consciousness of certain judgment is a splendid deterrent to wrong conduct; James is most confident that there will be such a judgment of Christian conduct, (comp. John 5:24; Eccl. 12:14; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12).

    3. The unmerciful may be surprised at the absence of divine mercy when they stand in judgment, (Matt. 18:32-35; Prov. 21:13).

    4. But those who exercise mercy are assured that they will rejoice at the judgment, (Matt. 5:7).
  CONCLUSION: It is important that we give careful consideration to our treatment of others. That will indicate:
  1. The true condition of our faith (whether it is pure, or contaminated with doubt);

  2. Our regard, or disregard, for God's revelation of the worth of all men;

  3. Our obedience to the royal law, or the law of transgressors; and

  4. Our prospect of joy or despair in the judgment that we all must face.
        Just how do you treat other people? The answer to that question may confirm or deny the genuineness of your Christian profession!