The Book of James Week Two Lesson Five

“Cracked is Broken”

   “...doesn’t (this) discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

   Yes indeed, it is 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.

   For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

   So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

 James 2:13

A little girl was playing dress-up in her Mom’s old party dresses. She was twirling around and dancing in her play-like world filled with a handsome prince and parties. As she did the most wonderful dance step she had ever done, she accidentally bumped the table where her mother had a beautiful old vase her grandmother had gotten when she was first married. It fell on the carpeted floor and when she picked it up she saw that it wasn’t broken. It did have a tiny crack that run along the base. She gently put it up on the table and never said a word to her mother.

Later that day her grandmother came for a visit. She sat down in the living room where the little girl was putting on a show for her in one of the dresses she loved to dance in. It was beautiful and her grandmother clapped and clapped. “Brava” she said. The little girl curtsied. When she came up from the curtsey she again hit the table. Her grandmother saw the vase start to fall and caught the vase in her hands. As she putting the vase back on the table, she noticed the big crack running along its base. “What happened here?” she asked the little girl, “Who broke the vase?”

The little girl shyly answered, “I cracked it Grandma, I didn’t break it.” “Honey,” the Grandmother said, “Cracked is broken.” She hugged her and explained that even though the vase didn’t fall apart, it still had been damaged. A big lesson was learned that day. The little girl learned that just because she didn’t do a lot of damage to the vase, she still hurt it and needed to confess. All was forgiven and the little girl went on the dance more carefully around the precious vase.

Read James 1:4-13. Look specifically at verses 10-12. What does it say about breaking part of the law?

Why is it important to know this?

James uses the example of favoritism here for the sin that appears to be only a “crack” in following what the Bible tells us to do. Like the little girl, sometimes we think a little “crack” isn’t a break and so it doesn’t really count against us. To our Lord, cracked is broken.

Since James focused on how favoritism is shown towards the rich and not the poor. Let’s see why it is so important for us to know. Valuing the world’s view of wealth over the Lord’s view is a “crack” and needs to be brought to light and mended.

Read James 2:5 Who has God chosen to be rich in faith?

What has He chosen them to do?

What does God give to those who love Him?

Think about it. Christians are called to leave everything and follow Jesus. The world cannot fathom why anyone would give up any kind of wealth. Those who call themselves Christ followers are considered “poor” by the standards of this world because our priorities are so different. 

Even though some Christians may have earthly wealth, they shouldn’t value their wealth over the eternal promises of God. Their wealth is a gift from God and really His for the furtherance of bringing people to Him and helping others if they are in need.

As Christians, we should only hold dear that which draws us closer to Jesus. We consider this life to be a brief experience compared to the eternity we will continue on in after we leave this world behind in death. Earthly wealth is only temporary. The wealth of eternity with Jesus is our true wealth. This way of life doesn’t really mesh with what the world thinks as important.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18. What is the message of the cross to those who value the world’s view of importance?

What does the cross mean to those who call themselves Christians?

The NIV translation uses the term “perishing” to describe those who value the world’s viewpoint. This is considered “wise” by human standards. The “me first attitude” is important in the world view of things. The way of the world ends in death. Because they are blinded by the wealth of the world, they miss the true wealth found in Jesus. The message of the cross doesn’t make sense to them.

The message of the cross, eternal life to those who choose to follow Jesus, is true wealth. Christians are those who realize this boat we call “life,” has a leak in it and will eventually sink. We’ve climbed to safety offered by Jesus and have waved good-bye to the things of this world. The message of the cross means life to those who realize they are perishing without Jesus. It is the power of God.

Read verse 6. Who have the believers (James is talking to) insulted?

Who are the poor?

Who are the rich?

Who do the rich exploit?

Where are they dragging them?

The last part of verse 6 tells us the world drags the poor into court. The Greek word for “court” is “kriterion” which means, “a standard, rule or test on which a judgement is based.” The world, judges Christ followers by the standards of this world. The Christian standards appear as foolishness to them.

When we hold dear the things of this world over the treasure we have in Christ Jesus, we sin. We aren’t to judge wealth by the standards of this world and but by the standards of God shown through Jesus. In Christ, we must allow Him to be the controlling factor for how live out our lives. We are to love others with the love we have found in Christ. The world thinks of us as poor fools because our standards are different. Our goal is to keep our standards as Jesus, not the standards set by the world.

Read verse 7. Who do the rich (worldly) slander?

The world slanders the Name of the Holy One ~ Jesus. How can we tolerate that? Doesn’t it break your heart when this happens?

Read verses 8-9. What does James consider the Royal Law?

What are we guilty of when value some people over others?

The Royal Law of King Jesus is to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 Jesus loved us far more than this law requires. He laid down His own life for us. We are asked to love as Jesus loves. We are to love with a love found outside our own capabilities and love by the power of His love.

Read verses 10-13. How is the Royal Law described in this verse?

What are the examples that James uses?

Why are we to show mercy to others?

We sin by showing favoritism in any way. We don’t follow the Royal Law when we show favoritism in any form. I don’t want to confuse being gracious and kind to others with tolerance toward sin. We aren’t called to tolerate sin. We are to love the sinner and lead them to the Redeemer.

Read 1 John 4:19-21. If we say we love God and hate others, then what are we? 

What is commanded in these verses?

Is there someone in your life that you hate or hold bitterness toward? Maybe you show favoritism and God has convicted you to repent. If there is, take this time to pray and confess your sin. Ask for His renewal through Jesus. Give it to Him.  

Dear friend, when we choose to follow King Jesus, we also choose to love as He loves. This means all prejudice goes out the window and His love replaces it. This is impossible to do on our own. It requires a heart that knows that cracked is broken. It takes a humble heart to confess our sin and take on God’s character through Christ Jesus. God, who is faithful, gives us the power, through His Holy Spirit, to live our lives as poor in the sight of the world but rich in our eternal inheritance.