James 2:1-7 – Why Christians should be impartial

One of James’ key emphases in this letter is to show how true believers look like. The genuineness of a person’s faith could only come forth through testing of the faith. He had already shown how trials and temptation, when properly responded to, would bring forth maturity and stability in God. He even taught the believers how to handle them. In these verses we see him dealing with the need to be impartial. In these verses, he asserted that not showing favoritism is a test of authentic faith. He began by saying that every believer should be impartial. Why? For the God we worship is impartial. To show partiality is in direct opposite to the nature of God. Everyone, regardless of social status or material possession, stands level at the foot of the Cross. This is precisely James’ point.

He started out in verse 1 by stating a very direct command: Do not show favoritism! What is showing favoritism? It is to give partial, bias, favor and preferential treatment to a person based on what one sees from his outward appearance. Here, he brought up two persons attending the worship service as an illustration. One came to the meeting, well decorated with gold in rich apparels while the other one came shabbily dressed. The former was given special treatment while the latter was given a rough one. James plainly stated here that such preferential treatment based on outward look is not congruent to faith. It is like attaching to a poor person lesser value than his true worth. It is like saying that a rich man is morally more superior and more suited for the Kingdom of God. As a motivation for his hearers to be impartial, he appealed to their belief in the glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4 implies that to give preferential treatment to a person based on his wealth would make one a judge with evil intention. James’ inference is that such an act is tantamount to wickedness.

Quickly, James gave two reasons why believers should not show partiality. Firstly he said, showing partiality is spiritually irrational. A spiritual paradox is deployed to help clarify that thought. The materially poor are spiritually rich. Why? The last half of verse 5 implies that the poor are more receptive to spiritual truth. No wonder Jesus opened His ministry by preaching to the poor (Luke 4:18). And in Luke 6:20, Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.” They are in a more advantageous position in terms of spiritual wealth. When one is poor, he is in a better position to realize his spiritual need. James reminded his hearers that to such poor people God had promised His Kingdom. 

Then in verse 6, James showed that showing partiality to the poor is socially irrational. It is to dishonor the poor. Furthermore, he argued, was it not the rich that would often exploit the poor and drag them to court? The term “fair” in verse 7 is translated “noble” in the NIV. James showed here that it was the rich that had often blasphemed the noble name of the Lord through whom they were called. Remember, Jesus said, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

What should our attitude be in the light of this passage? We must value everyone equally. Rich, the not so rich Christians or the poor, everyone is priceless in the eye of the Lord. For them, He sent His only begotten Son to die and redeem them. Let’s value and validate everyone, rich or poor!