Last week we saw that there was one law that governs our interactions with others. It is the Golden Rule and it requires an ever-present mirror because we are prone to forget the standard. That standard is us (That sounded so politically incorrect I enjoyed writing it!)
This week James writes how we should apply that law:“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
He goes to the heart of the matter and commands us to hold our faith without the sin of partiality. In fact, he drives his Jewish audience to the reality that breaking this seemingly small rule puts them in violation of the whole law.
In step with James, I leave you with this echo from the mountain as your charge this week:If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressor.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Folks, a complete Christian has the patience to receive their reward from the hand of God rather than through injustice. Yes, the opposite of ”impartial” is “injustice”.
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