12th October 2024

12th October 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 2v1-7)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The world’s greatest football manager is someone by the name of Pep Guardiola. His Barcelona side dominated European football for many years before he moved to Bayern Munich and Manchester City where his sides won trophy after trophy. I don’t know him and doubt I’ll ever meet him but I heard something recently that spoke to me about his integrity.


The story goes that Pep Guardiola gave £500,000 of his bonus to the backroom staff at Manchester City. The cynical among us might say that Guardiola could have doubled or tripled this gift and still not have missed it but I think that’s a wrongheaded way of judging the man. Guardiola recognised that the unseen members of his staff are just as important as those who take to the pitch every single week and so he gave half a million pounds to the unknowns.


There was no such thing as football when James wrote to the dispersed Christian churches but nevertheless he was clear that they should absolutely show no partially in their Christian walk (v1). It would seem that in some fellowships the rich were being treated better than the poor. The man in fine clothes was given the best seat in the house while the poor man was shoved to the back of the room or made to sit at someone’s feet (v3).


As these Christians showed partiality they had made themselves judges with evil thoughts (v4). You can imagine a similar situation. John the town drunk arrived to church on Sunday morning. It was clear that he was hung over, hadn’t washed in days and gave off a strong smell of urine. You and I would be doing everyone a favour by putting John somewhere out of the way or perhaps telling him to go home and get himself sorted out. On the other hand on Remembrance Sunday, the Lord Lieutenant of County Down came to Edengrove. He was sober, clean, well dressed and carrying an ornamental sword. Such a man deserved respect, honour and the best seat in the house.


Do you see the problem? Christianity is never “for show” and when we decide one man is more important than another because of his bank balance we have acted and judged wickedly. Christians are found in all shapes, sizes and social classes. Indeed, the Lord has called a multitude of the poor to be followers of Christ. They are rich in faith and will one day inherit the kingdom promised to those who love God (v5). How can we treat these people with contempt just because we don’t rub elbows with them at the golf club?


Indeed, it is often the rich who cause problems for the church and blaspheme the name of Jesus (v6-7). Why do we feel the need to pander to such individuals and bow and scrape before them?


Partiality is defeated by consistency and a thankful focus on the cross. Christ died for His Church and not just those who smell nice or have a healthy bank balance. Jesus bled for the rich and poor alike. Having money is not a sin but being partial to those who have money certainly is. Brothers and sisters, guard your hearts against that human tendency to rank people based on their social status or what they can offer us. Instead, consistently treat everyone you come across with the grace that you a sinner receive from Jesus. It doesn’t matter how a man smells, the size of a woman’s pension or the school tie someone wears - all of us are equal before Jesus, all of us need His precious blood. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q7 What are the decrees of God? The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
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