The past week or so I have been studying James in depth. In chapter two James is warning the church against prejudice. He gives the example of a person coming into a meeting dressed in fancy clothing and another coming in who is obviously poor and in dressed in dirty clothing. Then the members of the church show partiality to the rich person by giving him a good seat and telling the poor person to sit on the floor. When we get down to verse eight and nine is when God hit me with a hard truth:
"Yes, indeed it us good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law."
James 2:8-9
Immediately after reading this I thought of a phrase I say quite often: "I don't have to like them, but I have to love them." I could not be more wrong in saying this! That is NOT love. God says in Leviticus 19:18 "Love your neighbor as yourself." and Jesus emphasized its importance in Matthew 22:39 AND Mark 12:31. That means to love others as I love myself is a big deal!
This love in this commandment is not a petty, halfhearted love we often dish out. It is to be a God-sized love. God doesn't mean for us to just be really fond of others, he wants you and I to love everyone with a godly love. That means having deep concern for peoples spiritual and physical well-being. That means we have to let go of that "I don't have to like you, but I have to love you" mentality.
Loving with others with godly love also means we show no prejudice in who we love. I am to love rich and poor, black and white, tall and short, well and sick. It was for those we like to show partiality (like the poor and sick) that Jesus loved during his time here, for such people Jesus died for, and for such people Jesus sends us out to be ambassadors of his good news and glory.
I am challenging you as much as I am myself to search your life completely and honestly on where you may have failed to love someone with God-sized love. Will you pray with me and practice this with me? Let us throw away our half-hearted "love" and love others with GOD-SIZED love!
