Church is a place where neighbors become friends and friends become family.

The book of James is written to the twelve tribes consisting of brothers and sisters who James held close to his heart as beloved.

James is a book sometimes referred to as the Proverbs of the New Testament for its wisdom contained in short bits. While there are many verses and paragraphs full of standalone help, the book is written to a group of believers dispersed throughout the Roman world. These groups were embedded in the culture and faced difficulties, obstacles, and temptations from the surrounding world in which they lived.

1. REALLY: My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism REALLY believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?

We have a good chance to catch what we choose to chase. James describes chasing the ‘rich’ only to find they do not fulfill us. Be careful what we chase after.

Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it - Hebrews 13:2

“Has God not chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom…?” James 2:5

2. REALLY: You do well if you REALLY fulfill the royal law, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Partiality was seen as something okay to do or definitely less than the biggies of adultery and murder. Favoritism is bad ethically and it is bad morally. By it you transgress and are guilty before the entire law James says as you’ve made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil intentions.

Favoritism is antithetical to the Christian faith. It undermines our witness and oppresses the very people God has called us to take care of.