RESPECT OF PERSON Newsletter 325 November 2005 God doesn't show favoritism or partiality toward one of His children

over another. It doesn't matter what you look like or what you have. God respects His children based on their actions. Our Father doesn't how favoritism and neither should we. This is especially important as parents. It is a terrible thing for a parent to favor one child over another. God is very fair, and we should be fair, when we deal with others. Let's begin our study in the Book of James. James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. V2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; v3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, "Sit thou here in a good place;" and say to the poor, "Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:" Never show partiality. Unfortunately, many churches would say, "Sit that rich dude over here in the plush seats, and make sure the deacons pass the plate by him twice." Then they rest their feet on the poor man. This might very well drive the poor man away from God. All of God's children are precious in His sight. That isn't to say we all receive the same rewards. But not one of God's children receives rewards and blessings because God likes them better than His other children. We all get exactly what we deserve based on our actions. James 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? There is only One Judge. He is our Father. When you start judging others, you are standing on God's toes. Do you realize what kind of danger standing on God's toes places you in? Don't allow yourself to show partiality. When you do, you are setting yourself as a judge. James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him? It doesn't matter whether you are rich or poor. God has promised the kingdom to those who love Him. James 2:6 But ye have despised the poor, Do not the rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Many who are rich with ill-gotten gains set themselves up in judgeships. We are beginning to see a great deal of this, even today. Judges who judge according to their own agenda or precedent, and not by God's law, do indeed oppress the righteous. James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If you are a Christian, Christ is that worthy name by which you are called. Yes, they blaspheme His name, when they unfairly judge the righteous. They blaspheme His name, when they try to make it illegal for the word "God" to pass our children's lips. James 2:8 if ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," ye do well: Let's see, does this apply to rich neighbors or poor neighbors? James didnt differentiate and neither should we. A good neighbor is a true blessing. Ninety-nine time out of one hundred, if you are good to your neighbors, they will be good to you. James 2:9 But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. Sin is transgression of the law. You are committing sin, when you show partiality. Love your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. We should all thank God for repentance. James 2:11 For He That said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. V12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. Repentance and God's grace are what gives us liberty for our sins. James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. One thing you don't want is God's judgment without mercy. Show mercy to your brethren, and receive God's mercy on judgment day. God's mercy wipes away our sins, when we repent and ask for His forgiveness.

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? The answer is no. Let your works include mercy to others. Don't show favoritism. Always treat your brethren fairly. Let's continue our study in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 1:12 "How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? Moses has been chosen to lead the nation of Israel. He has approximately 2,100,000 people bringing their problems, disputes and complaints to him to resolve. Moses, as you might imagine, needs some help. Deuteronomy 1:13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you." The leaders they are appointing will assume some of the leadership and judgment responsibilities from Moses. Deuteronomy 1:14 And ye answered me, and said, "The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do." The people of Israel thought that this was a good idea. It wouldn't take nearly as long for decisions to be made and problems to be worked out. Deuteronomy 1:15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. Now Moses has some help. How were these chosen leaders to judge the people of Israel? Deuteronomy 1:16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, "Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. If you are going to serve God, you must treat your brethren fairly. Never be partial. Showing favoritism hurts people. Favoritism can even drive brothers away from God.

Deuteronomy 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment: but ye shall hear the small as well as the great: ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it." If a problem was too difficult for the newly appointed judges to resolve, they were to bring the cause to Moses. In this verse, we have Moses giving us the law not to respect persons based on wealth and power. It doesn't matter whether a person is poor or wealthy. It doesn't matter whether a person has no power or is very powerful. All are to be treated fairly. There is nothing wrong with respecting a person based on their actions. Respecting a person based on how much money or power they have is a sin. Turn with me to the Book of Mark. Mark 12:13 And they send unto Him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. They would try to catch Jesus in His words. They wanted to get rid of Him. He was causing them problems. Mark 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto Him, "Master, we know that Thou art true, and carest for no man: for Thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? The Pharisees and Herodians are using one of Satan's oldest tricks. They are building Jesus up, and then trying to trick Him into treason with their question. Mark 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, "Why tempt ye Me? Bring Me a penny, that I may see it." v16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" And they said unto Him, "Caesars." We are to follow the civil laws of the land. That includes paying taxes. Their trickery isn't working. Mark 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him. The image on the coin was Caesar's. Jesus told them to give the coin to Caesar. God wants your love, obedience and your service. Give what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God. Serving God requires that we show no favoritism to our brethren. Being partial is

judging. All too often, judging includes hurtful gossip and falsehoods. Turn with me to the Book of Ephesians. Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to their flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; v6 Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; Christians are the best employees a boss can have. If an employer treats us right, we give them an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. That is fair. Ephesians 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: v8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. It doesn't matter whether you are the lowest paid employee or the boss, God will make certain you get what you deserve. If you do good works, you receive blessings. If you do bad works, guess what you receive from God. He is fair. Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him. God doesn't have any favorites. He knows what you are doing, and He keeps very good records. Your good works are in the book, and your bad works are in the book, as well. The bad works can be erased through repentance and a change of heart. The good works remain in the book forever. In closing, turn with me to Colossians. Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; v24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. As Christians, we know where the most important possible rewards come from. It isn't from men. The reward we are all working toward is inheritance of the kingdom. Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. God doesn't play favorites. We all receive what we have earned. God loves us very much. He took the time to lay this all out for us here in

His Word. It really isn't all that difficult. It is simply a matter of doing what is right. Treat your brethren fairly without respect of persons. In His Service, Arnold Murray