Lesson 8: Faith’s fairness
 James 2:1-7 
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”
4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

Our verses for this lesson continue with the same thought as our last lesson. Just as we are not to keep ourselves separate from those who are very poor, we are also not to favor or especially seek the company and approval of those who are rich.

There is not a country in the world where people do not find discrimination of some kind. It is human nature, because we are selfish, to try to use other people for our personal gain. Those who cannot help us we try to push aside, and those who are rich or powerful we seek out if perhaps they can make us rich and powerful as well.


 This is not Jesus’ way. Jesus told a rich and powerful man one day that He did not come to call those who believed they had everything they wanted, He came to call those who knew they were sinners (Luke 5:32). Why would Jesus say this? Are rich people not welcome in God’s kingdom? Yes, they are welcome! But one of the greatest issues in salvation is that we must KNOW we cannot come to God in our own efforts. It is only someone who is deeply aware of their own sinfulness who knows they need a Savior. Whoever believes they have enough wealth, education, knowledge, or self-value to make it to Heaven on their own is not aware they need a Savior.

Remember, it is not evil to HAVE money, it is evil to want it so badly that it becomes the first priority in our life (1 Timothy 6:10). If we want to be with Him for all eternity, we must make Him the first priority of our life.

Memorize 1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.