Read: James 2:1-4

Having established that God is using the hard stuff in our lives to perfect us, to teach us and make a difference in our lives so we can make a difference in the world - espeically when it comes to the restoration of social justice, now James talks about the social ruler we use to judge each other.

James says in the Christian community, everyone is equally a child of God. He rebukes a culture that admires wealth, and Christians who bring that value into the Church.

He describes a scenario where a rich man and a poor man comes to Church, and all the ushers compete to tend to the rich man, making sure he gets the best seat in the house. Meanwhile, the poor man is asked to sit on the floor so he does not take up a good seat.

James calls this evil - it is the misuse of power to put someone in their place. It is not garden behaviour.

I suppose the social ruler can be extended to include other values that are not garden like. It would be equally wrong to prefer someone for their beauty, or education credentials, or their influential friends, or their charm, or their talents. In Christian community, everyone is uniquely special to God. And our job is to find out what that uniqueness is and celebrate it, without favoritism.

Write
Think about your faith story: how have you experienced favoritism - both being included or excluded for superficial reasons?

What things do you tend to admire in another person? What kind of people you feel most comfortable being around? What things about people make you feel uncomfortable?

What do you know is feeling excluded and second class?

Pray
What is God saying to you today?

Talk to God about how your experience of favoritism. How does it feel when you see others being excluded.

Talk to God about the people you gravitate towards, and those you tend to draw away from. Ask God for the courage to make friends beyond your comfort zone.

Pray for the people who is being excluded. Ask God to show you wisdom to model inclusion to them.

Pray for a fresh experience of God's love, grace and mercy as he creates around you a inclusive community, and as you see the disenfrancise find welcome.