November 14, 2024 - James 2

A couple thoughts, first, from 2:8 – “If you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.”  We live in an increasingly fragmented society with race set against race, ethnicities set against ethnicities, political partisans hating opposing partisans, and neighbors at odds with neighbors.  In fact, I read, the other day, about a wife who surprised her husband with divorce papers only a few days after the election because he voted differently than she did.  I’m thinking, “Really?”  That’s just bad.

And, then, a related thought:  “If you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.  For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (2:9-10).  Always, love your neighbor.  Never show ugly prejudice.  We are to be consistent in our attitude and actions toward others.

Love God with all your soul and strength.

With all your heart and mind;

And love your neighbor as yourself:

Be faithful, just, and kind.

Deal with another as you’d have

Another deal with you:

What you’re unwilling to receive,

Be sure you never do.   –Isaac Watts (1715)