I am sure that we are all aware that there is a decided difference between we and thee. What I am describing is the difference in the classes of people in the world. And I am not just speaking of the US or any other place. There are the elites and there is everyone else. We like to think that everyone is equal (at least we like to use the words to say so). The reality is that there are those that have and those that have not.
We see this just about everywhere. Sporting events, yes, everyone has the equal right to sit or partake in the viewing of the contest from anywhere, but is those elites that can afford or have been “granted” or have “won” the chance to sit close enough. In business, the parking lots are filled with those that conduct the work for the business, yet the closest and/or covered parking is for those with the highest positions in the company.
Now before we get too far into the debate of politics or social justice, I want to be clear that I am only making the above points to draw attention to my study this morning. I am still in the study of the word “liberty” and this morning’s passage in James is about partiality. I read and was reminded this morning that I am to treat everyone with the same liberty, regardless of their station or position.
“1My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3and 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,’ 4have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” — James 2:1-4 (ESV)
I know that I have to be careful when interacting with people to be sure that I am treating everyone with the same equal liberty. In my role as a trainer, everyone in class is my favorite. Everyone has unique talent to make the group stronger. I am called on to bring that talent to light for everyone to benefit. I am responsible to maintain each person’s self-esteem to be sure that they realize their value to the whole.
We are all called on to treat everyone equally. There are those that can “afford” other, more elite things based on the lives they have built for themselves, and I have no argument or animosity toward them or what they have accumulated as a result of the hard work they have done. That, however, is not a basis for treating them differently than those that cannot “afford” the elite things. When the elite things are stripped away, the elites are no different than others.
“12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” — James 2:12-13 (ESV)
My role is to provide liberty to all I come in contact. I am to treat everyone as equal in the eyes of God. I am to serve as the example of how Christ would act and I know that He would bring all together in the same room and give them all the same seats and speak direct with each and every one of them equally.
What have you seen that are the divides among people? Do you find yourself giving way to those “elites” over others, simply based on their status? What if you treated everyone with the same liberty that Christ would, all are equal?
Trevor's Thoughts 