"For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes" (James 2:2)
James is setting up a situation where the church might show personal favoritism (receiving the face). Two men show up for worship--a rich man and a poor man. Which man receives the better welcome? I once served on staff with a pastor who encouraged the evangelistic pursuit of the rich over the poor. Though he would never admit this, it was clear to me (a young youth pastor) that he believed practically that the rich were of more value to the church than were the poor. What we do says more about what we believe than what we say.
Today, you will likely encounter both the rich and the poor. How will you value them?
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