Are You In, or Are You Out?

James 2:1-7—My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

The way we as humans tend to value others is completely at odds with how God values us.  Especially in the United States, where everyone can “live the American Dream,” we gauge success by how much power, money, and status a person achieves.  There is a certain charismatic draw toward the accomplished and wealthy.  After all, who wouldn’t want an expensive car, a large home in the best neighborhood, and the wherewithal to afford anything we desire?  Somehow, we think wealth might rub off on us if we associate with the wealthy, and the converse is also true – we might be afraid of how poverty may rub off on us if we spend too much time with the poor.  Since Biblical times, though, Christians have been admonished not to draw these types of distinctions between people.  The very act of labeling someone initiates a barrier-creation whereby some people will be in and others will be out.  Exclusion in this manner is devastating and truly an act of violence to the spirit.  And just imagine, what if Jesus had labeled you for the purpose of excluding you?  The truth is, He excluded no one because He came to save EVERYONE.  Jesus came to save even those we might think do not deserve salvation at all. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, challenge yourself to see beyond the labels we have placed on those around us.  Pray that God would give you eyes to see the essence of the people around you.  Ask God to open your heart to accept others openly, lovingly, and equitably.  Rejoice in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit who abides in you and with you.