My brothers do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place and yet say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?     James 2:1-4 HCSB

James is telling us we are not to discriminate. In our Scripture passage above, look at how the rich guest is treated. He is seated in a good place while the poor man is forced to stand or sit on the floor by the footstool.

Here James is speaking of discrimination, but isn’t it also a form of idolatry? When we put someone first because of what they have and what we perceive they can do for us aren’t we worshiping them? In Luke 16:26-27, Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, and even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple.

If you are feuding with a family member, don’t get it twisted. Jesus isn’t telling us it’s good to hate them. Jesus is telling us that He must come first. He must come before your family and anything you want in your own life.

We must be very careful to worship God and God only. We should not put anyone before Him. This is idolatry. We should first strive to please God. Proverbs 16:7 says when we please God, God makes even our enemies at peace with us.

In Acts 10:34-35, Peter said God is no respecter of persons meaning God shows no partiality. We do well to do likewise. When we welcome the wealthy into our churches with open arms but are more guarded with the less fortunate, we have a problem.

At this point, we become a hotel or a country club for the wealthy instead of a hospital for the sick and hurting. Our churches are filled with sinners in need of a savior. It doesn’t matter if members are rich, poor, or middle class. What matters is that we are unified in the truth of God’s word.

I know that at my best, I am just a dirty, rotten sinner who has been cleansed by Jesus’ blood. I want to share what I have found and experienced in Him. If I fail to see others through the same lens with which Jesus Christ sees them, my view can become distorted.

Are you showing partiality? Do you enter into relationships because of what they have to offer you or because of what you can offer them? Has your church become a five-star hotel or a country club instead of a hospital?

Let’s be honest. If you had your choice of going to a luxury hotel or a hospital, you’d much rather go to the hotel, right? I know I would. But the problem is if I am sick and dying, the hotel cannot help me. I must go to the hospital to be healed.

Our churches must be hospitals where healing can take place. Once we receive that healing, we must be a part of that process to help others heal.

Be careful who you worship. We are to worship our Lord and Savior only. God put us here to worship Him and to lead others to Him. Learn to see others as God sees them.

We are often told not to judge a book by its cover. A wealthy man can be spiritually bankrupt while a poor man can be a fountain of spiritual wealth and wisdom. Regardless of social status, we are all sinners in need of a savior.

God doesn’t discriminate, and neither should we. He wants all of us to come to Him and confess our sins and repent and be washed clean (1 John 1:9).

Have a great day!