James 2

1 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold onto the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

2 For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in,

3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “sit here on the floor by my foot stool.”

 4 Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

            We live in a society that thrives with favoritism. We exalt people to idol status who sing and perform or excel in their athletic endeavors. We are often in awe of anyone who is presented to us on a stage whether it be a politician or a pastor. And those who are well-to-do can often be especially loved…or hated.

            But God doesn’t see people the way we do. God looks at their hearts…their souls. He has no favorites. And he doesn’t want us to, either.

            In 2017, Jeremiah Steepek, a pastor starting his first Sunday at his church of 10,000, disguised himself as a homeless man wandering outside the church as congregants were gathering for Sunday service with the new pastor. As he walked among them, he reported that only 3 out of the 10,000 said hello to him; when he asked for change or food, he was dismissed; and when he went near the front of the church to sit down, he was asked by the ushers to sit in the back.

            The elders of the church were in on Pastor Steepek’s plan, and went on with the service. The time came to introduce the new pastor of the church and when they did Pastor Steepek walked up the aisle from the back, still looking homeless, and shocking the congregation. He took the microphone and began reciting,

            Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

            Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

            The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

            After this recitation, the pastor reported what he had experienced with the congregation that morning. Many wept in the church and many heads were down in shame.

            He concluded by saying, “Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples?”