Friday, February 10
Prejudice
Scripture: James 2
James 2:8–9 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.
Observation
James warns against showing prejudice (favoritism, partiality), particularly with respect to the rich and poor (although it can certainly be applied to other distinctions such as class, race, gender, age, etc). He says clearly that such prejudice is sin, and is counter to the royal law of love: that we love our neighbor as ourselves.
Simply put, if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we do well; if we show prejudice or partiality, we sin.
Several years ago, my friend Kevin Parker came disguised as a homeless man to a meeting of local Christian leaders. I remember seeing him (and not recognizing him) and wondering what this guy was doing here. I didn’t mistreat him, but I didn’t reach out either. Happily, Kevin was able to stand up, reveal the ruse, and tell us that a number of people did reach out and treat him very kindly, as though he belonged.
I felt like I failed the test.
Application
I admit that I’m guilty of prejudice, of making shallow judgments based on appearance, and of moving toward people or away from them based on those judgments. Forgive me Lord.
The royal law of love requires us to treat each person as we want to be treated, to love them as we love ourselves. How do I want to be treated? I want to be seen for all that I am, not a truncated caricature of myself. I want to be known and respected and valued. That’s how I am to treat others—which means I must let go of my prejudice and favoritism, and take people as they are and love them.
Prayer: Lord, I love you, and I want to do better. Sometimes I love well, but other times, I show favoritism. Forgive me, and continue to enlarge my heart.
More: Exodus 31-32, Psalm 18, Acts 17