James 2

James 2: The Call to Love Without Favoritism and to Live Out Our Faith

As we look into James 2, we see that it addresses two crucial aspects of our Christian walk: favoritism within relationships in the church and the connection between faith and deeds. These teachings challenge us to reflect on how we treat others and the practical outworking of our faith in everyday life. Let’s explore these two key areas together.

Favoritism: A Dangerous Divide

In the opening verses of James 2, James makes a direct plea: don’t show favoritism. It doesn’t matter if someone is tall or short, rich or poor, male or female—everyone should be treated equally, with kindness and respect. James’s message is clear: love everyone the same. He calls us to love others without having an ulterior motive, free from the temptation to treat people based on what we can gain from them.

We’ve all been there. It's easy to slip into the habit of trying to “network” or connect with people because of their social standing or what they can offer us. Even as pastors or leaders, it can be tempting to approach relationships with a mindset of, “What can I get out of this?” But that kind of thinking doesn’t align with the heart of Jesus.

We’ve learned through experience that when we evaluate someone based on superficial characteristics, we miss out on knowing their true heart or the depth of their relationship with God. That kind of favoritism doesn’t lead to true fellowship, and it certainly doesn’t build the kingdom of God.

As one of us reflects, there was a time during seminary when the challenge was identifying leaders within the church. At first, it was all about checking the right boxes—who knew the Bible, who came from a Christian family. But eventually, it became clear that some of those who checked all the right boxes weren’t truly interested in loving others or building the church. True leaders, however, were the ones who cared for people and showed genuine love for others, no matter their status or background.

This is a tough lesson: don’t get caught up in what you can get out of people. Instead, focus on investing in those who want to grow in their faith and love others well. It’s not about the connections; it’s about the fruit that comes from loving people as Christ loves us.

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

In verse 8, James transitions into a deeper call for action. He echoes the royal law found in Scripture: love your neighbor as yourself. This is not just about loving the people we know or the ones who are easy to love. Our neighbors are everyone—people in our homes, people across the street, and even people we meet at the grocery store.

Loving our neighbor means treating them with the same care, concern, and priority that we give ourselves. It’s easy to love people who fit within our comfort zone, but James challenges us to love those who might be more difficult to embrace. This includes those who don’t immediately seem to fit into our “circle” or who we may find hard to love. James emphasizes the importance of extending love to all, no matter their background or status.

This can also affect our mentoring relationships. When we’re looking for people to invest in, the key question is: Are they genuinely desiring to grow in their walk with God, or are they just looking for someone to talk things through with? There’s a difference. The people who are truly leaning into their faith and seeking transformation will show fruit, even if it's not immediately visible.

This process of loving others like we love ourselves takes intentionality. It’s not about waiting for others to reach out to us—it’s about actively going out and meeting people where they are. In the church, we can sometimes get caught up in our own circles, showing favoritism toward those we already know. But that’s missing the point. We must be a welcoming community, reaching out to the new person, regardless of their social status.

Faith Without Deeds Is Empty

James then turns his attention to the relationship between faith and deeds in the second half of chapter 2. He poses a critical question: What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? James 2:19 highlights the fact that saving faith requires more than knowledge. Demons know Jesus is God but they do not repent or obey him. True saving faith is repentance, belief and obedience!

This is not a contradiction of Paul’s teaching on salvation by grace through faith, but rather a clarification. Faith without deeds is an empty faith. True faith in Jesus will always lead to a transformed life that is evident in our actions. We are saved by grace, not by works, but when we truly experience the grace of God, it compels us to do good works as a natural response. In this conversation the terms ‘works’ and ‘law’ are often brought up. James 2:12 references the “law that gives freedom” that changes the way we live. This law is in fact the Gospel! The Gospel changes everything about us, including what we do with our lives.

In Ephesians 2:8-10, we are reminded that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, but that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which He prepared in advance for us to do. Our faith should be active, visible, and lived out in the way we treat others and in the way we serve the world. Always take the context of the passage into account. Here James is telling believers to not show favoritism and tangibly love the poor, don’t just sit on the sidelines, do something! See v14-17.

When we come to understand the grace we’ve been given, it becomes impossible to keep that grace to ourselves. Our love for others, our deeds, our actions—these are the evidence of the faith we profess. Without them, our faith remains lifeless and unproductive.

The Challenge and the Invitation

James challenges us to examine both our relationships and our faith. Are we loving others without favoritism, truly seeking to serve them with no strings attached? Are we living out our faith with actions that demonstrate the love of Christ?

As we reflect on these teachings, it’s essential to remember that faith and deeds are inseparable. Our faith in Jesus should lead us to act in ways that reflect His love and grace. It’s not enough to say we believe; our lives should show it through how we treat others and how we live out the mission of God in the world.

Let us not be content with a faith that is merely a profession of belief but a faith that is active, alive, and evident in every part of our lives. And as we do so, let’s commit to loving everyone equally, regardless of status, and living out our faith with integrity and action. We are called to love others as we love ourselves, to walk in mercy and justice, and to be doers of the Word, not hearers only.

This is the way of Jesus, and it’s the way we are called to walk together.