Against All Odds Week 4

AGAINST ALL ODDS – Part 4
Exclusively for Everyone

James 2:1-13 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you
hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if someone
comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine
clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, 3 if
you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit
here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over
there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you made
distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in
this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has
promised to those who love him? 6 Yet you have dishonored the
poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Don’t they
blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?
8 Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love
your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 9 If, however, you
show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles
at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. 11 For he who said, Do not
commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit
adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of
freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not
shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1. We value people based on their VALUE before God, not their
STANDING in society.

2

2
James 2:1 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you
hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
 An UNWELCOMING church misrepresents the grace of
God.

James 2:2-4 For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold
ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy
clothes also comes in, 3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the
fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the
poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my
footstool,” 4 haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and
become judges with evil thoughts?

2. No one ‘DESERVES’ the love of God more than someone
else.
James 2:5-6a Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God
choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the
kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 Yet you have
dishonored the poor.

3. When Christians pander for the world’s ACCEPTANCE, we
undervalue the LOVE of God.

James 2:6b-7 Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into
court? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over
you?

4. Withholding RESPECT and LOVE is as destructive to others
and ourselves as any other sin.

3

3
James 2:8-9 Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the
Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 9 If,
however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by
the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet
stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. 11 For he who said, Do
not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit
adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.

Final Thought: What we have freely received we must freely
GIVE.
James 2:12-13 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the
law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has
not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.