James 2:1 (CSB)
My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
Clothing companies that were trying to match the public's perception of success recruited an analyst to perform an experiment with raincoats. He employed an actor to wear a tan raincoat and approach people at a crowded subway station. The actor explained that he had left his wallet at home and asked strangers if he could borrow train fare. Surprisingly, people were generous with this well-dressed man in a tan raincoat. Then the same actor wore a black raincoat and approached people the same way with the same story. However, this time, he was treated very differently. Not only did no one give him money, but some even threatened him physically. The conclusion of the experiment was that people saw the black coat as threatening and judged the man with suspicion, while they viewed the tan coat with favor and evaluated him as successful and trustworthy.
Think about the way that Jesus was born into this world. He wasn't born into a royal palace but into a humble stable. He didn't come wearing royal robes or shiny armor; He wore the clothes of a typical man of His day. The fact that His birth divides our calendar indicates just how crucial it is as one of the most noteworthy moments in human history.
Jesus exemplifies for us what real love and acceptance are all about. In a world that is inclined to judge others by their outward appearance, God examines our hearts. Jesus didn't show favoritism to anyone based on their outward appearance or their socioeconomic background. The last, the least, and the lost were the ones who were drawn to Jesus, while the religious and social elite rejected Him.
The Epistle of James was written to people who were being horribly persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Yet in the midst of their persecution, he's urging them to live out their faith every day and in every way and not to show favoritism towards the elite or look down on those of humble means.
James 2:2–4 (CSB)
For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Pause for a moment to reflect on the contrast between the reactions to the black and tan raincoat and the perceptions of Jesus. Like the old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We must be careful not to judge others by their appearance, their background, or their socioeconomic standing. God has accepted us with incredible love, grace, and mercy that are beyond our comprehension. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that if we have experienced God's love, we are required to extend that same love to others.
Read how Jesus said we are to love one another in John 13:34–35 (CSB). “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Think about the tremendous way that Jesus has displayed His love to us. He lived a life of total humility and laid down His life by suffering and dying on a Roman cross.
I challenge you to reflect on the raincoat experiment the next time you see an unfamiliar person and try not to make judgments based on what they're wearing. Because the way we treat others is a direct reflection of how the love of Christ is transforming our hearts. You have an opportunity to show the love of Jesus to everyone you meet. Embrace this challenge, not just on Sundays but every day, in every way. Pray for the Holy Spirit to flow in and through your life and into the lives of others. This is how the world will know that you are a Jesus follower. And as a result, you will be experiencing the Kingdom of God here on earth.