Journal ~ JamesSample

DISCIPLINE

In this second paragraph, James goes on to expand on the thought stated in verse 1: My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

He reminds the church that it is in fact the poor people in the church who provide a rich fellowship of love in the church community, and it is often the rich who create problems for the poor in the church community. 

In doing this he reminds the church that the community of God, the church, has to remain in a loving and serving relationships with each other. By siding with another simply because they have wealth is also siding against the ones who are in the church who do not possess wealth. 

The church is to be the body of Christ. In the Word of God we see that God and Jesus always sided with the poor and the downtrodden. To side with the rich by giving them favor shows that one is not really a true child of God, because that behavior is not an accurate reflection of God. If we behave like him, we will be like him.