It's funny how we treat people who are dressed in nice clothes. We all have heard the saying, "It's the clothes that make the man." Our Western Culture is consumed with looking good, buying nice clothes, and making good impressions. We want to be judged, and accepted by our looks without a word coming out of our mouth. There is nothing wrong with looking good and wearing nice clothes. There's nothing wrong with making a good first impression, but we have to be careful if we start to show favoritism in the body of Christ to those who "look good" by appearances only.
In fact the Bible warns against this kind of favoritism in the book of James. "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there,"or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man." "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." James 2:1-6 8-9
The greek word for "show partiality" is prosopolepteo it means to make distinctions among people based on their rank or influence, showing preference to the rich and powerful. I am thankful God did not show partiality on the cross. At the foot of the cross we are all equal. Human worth is the blood of Jesus, and we all became heirs of Christ at that moment regardless of our station here on this planet. We need to regard and respect every person we meet regardless of their wealth, race, or position. If we welcome the wealthy to our churches because we "need" their money, and reject the poor because we feel that can't advance our causes then I believe we've lost the true heart of God. "And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40
God is after our heart. He wants us to truly love and see people as He sees them. A person can look great on the outside, but be dying inside. Jesus said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." Matt. 23:27
Let's not look at the outward appearance of man. Let's look at their heart. There are wealthy people who are wonderful godly people, and poor people who want nothing to do with Jesus and vice-versa. All men need Jesus, so let's not be hypocritical like the scribes and Pharisees. At the foot of the cross we are all equal. We're all Sharp Dressed Men when we are clothed in Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment