The Rich Man: Favoritism

    The Rich Man: Favoritism
(As I was typing this, my fat fingers hit several keys and R$ich came up. Propitious?)

A recent sermon quoted James who warns us not to give preference or precedence to rich men who join our assembly. James 2:2, 3 warns against "paying special attention" to the man with fine clothes. Incidentally, this does not call the man "rich." In verse 1 the description is wearing "a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes." He had the trappings or clothes of a rich person, but that is just the outward appearance.

That could be another study in and of itself. Today we want to focus on the church's response. Notice James' description of the usher's greeting, evidently with the blessing of the congregation:
    ...you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place."

He goes on with "instructions" or greetings to the (evidently) poor man:
    "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"

In verse 6 James essentially "reads them the riot act."
    Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

The church was bending over backwards to honor enemies of the faith. They oppressed individual  believers and the corporate body. Even today, they just cause trouble. Note the specific charge: "drag you into court." Further they blaspheme Christ's Name. That is what it means when James uses "the fair name by which you have been called."

The radio speaker expanded the meaning by pointing out that James was referring to the "Name spoken over you." That happens when we are baptized. "I baptize you in the Name of...."

The allure of the wealthy leads people to literally work against their own best interests and those of the Lord. How can we be so dumb? And sadly, that is not difficult to find examples. Most of us probably know of churches that had "trouble," and often it is caused by a seeming "rich man."

They often "join" a church and are immediately appointed to a prominent post. In spite of Paul's warning to Timothy, these new people are promoted into leadership positions. (1 Timothy 5:22) "Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily." Paul meant ordination or installing as leadership when he said, "lay hands."

Often these relatively new, whether young in the faith or not is debatable, members are placed into leadership positions and proceed to cause problems. Some churches have literally gone to court, as James warns. The result is often split churches and damaged ministries.

His point, besides being wise in whom you trust to lead, is to treat everyone as you would like to be treated. I read of a new pastor who entered his church on his first Sunday as a homeless man. (The elders knew of his ruse.) This was a visual message to the church about how they respond to the situation James presented. His church failed, but I am sure that it was the last time they did.

If we turn someone away and turn them off to the Lord by our actions, we will face judgment. Jesus said that as we do to the least of these, we are doing to Him. (Matthew 25 tells the story.)

Or to put it another way, as some famous Preacher once said, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." James merely gave us a flesh and blood example.