Posted By Pastor Claude Thomas
One time while browsing around in a business, I experience something that reminded me how we view others is important. A customer was looking through one of the displays. When they finished it looked like a small tornado had passed over the display. It was in shambles. The owner was quite upset. And they commented to me, another customer, if they had seen the person doing it, they would have given the customer a good talking to. Then the owner emphatically said, “I wouldn’t worry one moment about saying something to someone like that. They never buy anything anyway!”
Selfish? Probably! But before I jump into the seat of the judge, I must remember I, too, am capable of seeing others through selfish lens.
How do I avoid that selfish tendency? One way is to accept what the Bible says about it. James, the pastor of the church in Jerusalem, advised you place yourself in jeopardy by such an attitude. How did he do it? James illustrated it by giving his readers a “for instance” situation.
He wrote: For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”–well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?
(James 2:2-4 NLT)
Why would they do such a thing? Well, some things remain the same. They did it for selfish reasons. They looked for the wealthy person to do something to help them.
That’s the picture. Then James showed the absolute practical stupidity of it. “… You have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?” (2: 6)
Then he also showed the absolute spiritual disaster of it. “For judgment without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” (2:13).
How we treat other people does have consequences. Violation of the principles of Scripture will bring unwanted consequences! Avoid viewing people through selfish lenses, it is unwise!