September 8th
"Faith, Favoritism, and Fruitful Works"
 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

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Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.

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3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”

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have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

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But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

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Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

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If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right.

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But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

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For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

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What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

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Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

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If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

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In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.