Showing Mercy
James 2:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
In James 2 we can see how connected everything is that we have been talking about so far. This fact should also highlight how disjointed we can be. Most people read this passage and think: 'oooh, here is a warning against favoritism. Then there is something to show all sinners they cannot keep the law. Finally, there is faith versus works at the end of the chapter.' Is James really the one that is confused or are we the ones who do not fully understand. I want to talk about a small little word called mercy. I would like to show three things here; first, why we need mercy. Second, how mercy is used. If I asked a Scripture scholar what mercy is, someone would would reply that it is God's unmerited favor towards those who do not deserve it. Is it really?
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 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.
This is what mercy is. So we can better understand it, James gives us an example. Two men go into the house of God together: one is rich and one is poor. One obviously has wealth and the other does not. One gets promoted to the best seat in the house. The other sits with the servants. The text calls this practice favoritism. Could not those two men be the same person. If I wore fine clothes and a gold ring, can I not also wear filthy clothes? If I sit where the servants do can I not also sit in the best seat in the house? If I am a servant yesterday, can I not be a master today? Where I sit or what I wear does not determine who I am nor does it lessen my blessing that God has for me. It does however affect you because for you it is a sin to show favoritism. We should all be "believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ." I do not think some of us fully comprehend who he is and what he can do. This is his kingdom and this is his work. Have a little faith if it cannot be great according to Matthew 17:20. Even a little faith can still do much in the kingdom of God. You surely have not believed in vain even though you may feel like it now for the many trials faced. I can be down today, but God could raise me up tomorrow. I could be mocked today but God will vindicate me tomorrow. Verse four of this chapter points out that those who judge among each other also discriminate among themselves. All these little judges are in the house and God is not like you. Check this. Remember in James 5:11 that the Judge is at the door. God does not do things like you do nor does he define things as you do.
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?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?
Consider the meaning of this text and then redefine who is rich and who is poor. It says right here that the rich ones will exploit you and drag you to court. When you blaspheme Christ with your actions towards the poor, be careful for your sake. The rich people may be coming after you and you did not even know that they were rich. Are these not the same as those who lack. Who do you see on People's Court? Who do you see in the child support court, probate court, or any other court in this world? God does not look at your stuff. He does not look in your bank account. He did not even check your closet this morning, although you did. He did not look at the stock market, your 401k, or your retirement check. He looked at your heart. He looked at the spiritual blessings in your house. He looked at the richness of faith that he gave you. It does not matter that you chose not to use it before judging your fellow man. He calls such practice dishonor. This is why when there have been great wrongs in this life, and in this life there will be, you must settle your case with the Lord Almighty. You may see the same people who have wronged you come into church. They may even be part of your family. Make sure you are not the one that is in the wrong also. Unless you want to trade your birthright in Christ for a bowl of soup, do not as in Genesis 25:31-34. I ask again, what is mercy? Did the rich and the poor do anything to earn their blessing? Did they do anything to dishonor it and cast it aside? Look carefully now.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
This is why I cannot leave the principle of mercy alone. Verses ten and eleven, which come just before, are favorites of everyone who uses the law to point out the need for a Savior. We are under the law that brings freedom rather than the one which brings death under Moses and Adam according to 1 Corinthians 15:22. Now let us address why we need mercy. "Mercy triumphs over judgement." See, this passage is all connected now. Christ came to fulfill the law in Matthew 5:17. It is done and over with. The law will not hurt you anymore. So why is it brought up again now, this thing that you cannot keep? The law is a standard that is impossible without God's perfection according to Galatians 3:24. This is why Jesus had to fulfill it to make room for what was greater. Because, when you judge, you think that someone did something wrong or you think that someone is something: black, white, rich, poor, bond, free, slave, prisoner, redeemed, and accepted in the beloved. In Christ there is none such. Choosing not to judge is saying I choose not to reflect on myself according to James. This is the point of loving your neighbor as yourself in Mark 12:31; one day your neighbor could be you. For what have I offered by judging but my opinion and in the words of Jesus he has made us to be a "new creation" in him. This means old things have passed away and he is making all things new as in 2 Corinthians 5:17. I will say again, "mercy triumphs over judgement." See, mercy and judgement do not go together. They are indeed at odds with each other. If I go into a courtroom and pluck out the convicted and say, 'I do not hold it against you and you are free to go,' how is that mercy? It does not save them from the court sentence; saying these words has done nothing for them. I may feel better for a little while for my charity, but if I am the offended I will still feel the weight of what they have done. If the convicted cannot eat, pay their bills, are left to the wolves, and discounted by all how is this mercy? People who do not believe often ask how a merciful God can allow such cruelty to happen in this world. He does not. Because God is holy, he judges sin and the sinner alike. Because God is merciful, he puts an end to such.