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DISCIPLINE
One of the greatest attacks on the church is that we borrow the world's way of looking at people instead of God's way. This is the first thing that James spells out in the second chapter of his letter.
In the first verse, James points out that our behavior demonstrates what is really in our hearts. Our key text set this up, and in the next three verses make it clear. One of the strongest teachings of Jesus was the statement “You cannot serve both God and Mammon” (the god of money). There is no middle ground. Considering wealth as an important thing (and the sign of considering it important is treating those who have it differently) proves that one is NOT serving God.
This is not an issue of misguided treatment or favoritism, it is an issue of belonging to a different kingdom, of serving a different god.
Let us be reminded that God calls for our absolute loyalty to Him. If we belong to Him, we put God first in everything.
Scripture
About this Plan
For James, Christians (that is, followers of his half-brother) should reflect the character of their God. And what we find in this letter is not works and more works as sometimes thought to be. On the contrary it is a letter infused by God’s character, with the intention of making God-shaped people living in the world.
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We would like to thank International English Service Jakarta for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://iesjakarta.org/
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