Jas 1:27 -2:1 "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory."
Loving especially those who cannot provide any repayment of that gift is a definitive reflection of Christ in our lives. Jesus Christ shows no partiality in love to us for we cannot repay or give any benefit back to God for His mercy, grace and love towards us. God is just and demands justice. Don't try to deceive Him or be deceived.
Deu 16:19, 20 "You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you."
2Ch 19:7 "Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes."
You are just kidding yourself if you think love is about gaining favor from someone who can give favors. If you want recognition and to receive prestige, don't pretend that you are giving a sacrifice of service to others from love. You want your pride built up and your actions recognized by others, that is not love. That is using others and an abuse of those in need!
Jas 2:2 - 4 "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, 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," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
This is the the way God loves, He chooses to give to those who are most in need. It is God's nature to love us who are most humbly desperate and acknowledge we have nothing but what He has given as provision to us. It is all gift. It is all grace. It is all undeserved and can never be repaid. For He is Absolute Love.
Jas 2:5 "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?"
Instead of remembering this I often fall back into sin and look past the need of others. I pursue the person of position and power, trying to gain their favor. I then realize to my shame, these are the very people who have no time for God or for other people. They are wrapped up in gathering people around them who will worship them and not God!
They love riches and power, demand their rights and privileges, without care for the welfare of others around them. They demand their own personal kingdom to be served by those around them.
Jas 2:6, 7 "But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?"
If you really want to be enveloped by the Absolute Love of God and free yourself from the use and abuse of sin, you will take no thought of the persons position or status. You will simply love by looking to the needs of those around you. Your loving of others by the power of Christs love flowing in and though you,will have no hint of partiality.
Jas 2:8, 9 "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."
Loving especially those who cannot provide any repayment of that gift is a definitive reflection of Christ in our lives. Jesus Christ shows no partiality in love to us for we cannot repay or give any benefit back to God for His mercy, grace and love towards us. God is just and demands justice. Don't try to deceive Him or be deceived.
Deu 16:19, 20 "You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you."
2Ch 19:7 "Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes."
You are just kidding yourself if you think love is about gaining favor from someone who can give favors. If you want recognition and to receive prestige, don't pretend that you are giving a sacrifice of service to others from love. You want your pride built up and your actions recognized by others, that is not love. That is using others and an abuse of those in need!
Jas 2:2 - 4 "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, 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," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
This is the the way God loves, He chooses to give to those who are most in need. It is God's nature to love us who are most humbly desperate and acknowledge we have nothing but what He has given as provision to us. It is all gift. It is all grace. It is all undeserved and can never be repaid. For He is Absolute Love.
Jas 2:5 "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?"
Instead of remembering this I often fall back into sin and look past the need of others. I pursue the person of position and power, trying to gain their favor. I then realize to my shame, these are the very people who have no time for God or for other people. They are wrapped up in gathering people around them who will worship them and not God!
They love riches and power, demand their rights and privileges, without care for the welfare of others around them. They demand their own personal kingdom to be served by those around them.
Jas 2:6, 7 "But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?"
If you really want to be enveloped by the Absolute Love of God and free yourself from the use and abuse of sin, you will take no thought of the persons position or status. You will simply love by looking to the needs of those around you. Your loving of others by the power of Christs love flowing in and though you,will have no hint of partiality.
Jas 2:8, 9 "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."
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