James, the brother of the Lord Jesus Christ, wrote to Christians who were scattered around at least the western Mediterranean seaboard due to persecution. Throughout his letter to them, he expresses a number of thoughts and concerns, but what I find both incredible and self-convicting is how the wisdom of God flavors the entire letter. Consider the presence and power of God's wisdom in what James says here, where he writes in James 2 ...
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor person in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the one who is poor, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
It is easy to read this and just come away discouraged or frustrated with yourself for not living up to what James wrote to Christians almost two thousand years ago. And because we can remove ourselves from it by consideration of its original audience, or because we have socially removed ourselves from interactions with people who are different from ourselves, we think we're doing okay. Or maybe we think that because Jesus came, died on the cross, and rose again, that a "new" law is in effect, and so, like Martin Luther before us, we wrongly think that James is still, somehow, stuck in following the Law of Moses.
But is that true? If we understand that the Wisdom of God has been at work as the integral part of God's plans for creation from before He uttered the words that started it all off, then we must reject such thoughts. If we are willing to see Jesus as the fulfillment of all things in Old Testament that refer to God's making for Himself a people to be a light to the world, and not superseding the Law, then we must see God's Wisdom, not only at work from creation to His consummation at the end of Revelation, but God's Wisdom as God incarnate, Jesus Christ.
Understanding that allows us to appreciate, then, the words of Alistair Metcalfe, when he writes for Scripture Union UK's WordLive devotions (12/13/2008) ...
What’s going on inside the minds of individuals when they show favouritism?
Why is there such a strong temptation among people – even God’s own people – to
show preference towards the wealthy, the well-to-do or the well-connected – even
when they can be the very ones who tend to make our lives difficult (vs 6,7)?James gives us a clue by going on to speak about the Law of Moses (vs
8–13). The first two commandments given in Exodus 20 establish God as the only
one to be feared and worshipped, and leave no room for idolatry – and I think
idolatry is the root issue here (see Exodus 20:3–6).How easy it is for us to see people not for who they truly are – made in the image of God and carrying his identity – but purely in terms of what they can do for us. It’s only when we see other human beings as objects that we can covet their bodies adulterously. And it’s only when we see life as disposable that we can imagine dealing with them murderously (v 11).
God doesn’t show favouritism because he sees us rightly – not as
commodities, but as his children. Loving others as we love ourselves (v 8) means
choosing to see one another in the same way.
This is the Wisdom of God that is present in those who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord. The Wisdom of God is available to God's people. And yet, we often choose to live as though we knew Him not. We sin because we do not see the way God sees. We sin because we do not understand as God understands. We sin because we can only see what we (our sin self) want to see.
When we avail ourselves ... no better, when we surrender ourselves to God's mercy, we align our will, our very selves, with God. We are able to see people made in the image of God, the imago Dei. We do not see others as objects which we may covet, or life as disposable which we may toss. God have mercy upon us, for Jesus didn't just limit these sins to actions, but to thoughts - greed, lust, murder.
But the Wisdom of God is the "cure" to sin and sinfulness. As Jesus permeates us, our thoughts and then our lives become free from sin. This is why Paul writes that we are to be transformed [in and by the work of the Holy Spirit of God] through the renewing of our minds. This is not a dichotomy, as if our bodies didn't matter. Rather, Paul goes on to note that once our minds are renewed, we shall be able to test and approve - to know intimately - God's good and perfect will. We will know, we will approve, and we will participate willfully, joyfully in God's will - not in our own sinful desires.
What do you think? Where is the Wisdom of God in your life? It's more than just having Scripture memorized ... it is living the Scriptures out, and doing so to God's glory!
