Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– F.F. Bruce
No Respecter of Persons
God doesn’t look with any regard to what type of person we are or how much influence we have. God gives His blessings without discrimination, “For God shows no partiality” (Rom 2:11), and since “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34), neither should we. Even in the Old Testament, Israel was told, “You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it” (Duet 1:17).
No Regard for One over Another
James had high regard for the poor and lowly, just like Jesus did, and so he wrote, “if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts” (James 2:2-4). What James is saying is, we are to “show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1), because “if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9).
Not Many Mighty
We can boast about nothing but the cross of Christ (1st Cor 4:7), because all we brought to the cross where empty hands and sin-stained hearts, so “consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” (1st Cor 1:26), in fact, “He does not regard any who are wise of heart” (Job 37:24), because “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1st Cor 1:21). That’s why “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1st Cor 1:27-29).
Conclusion
Mr. Bruce, in saying, “God bestows His blessings without discrimination,” is very much like what Jesus said: “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:45), so if He chooses to send the rain on the just and the unjust, let us not be a respecter of persons; let us not have regard for one person over another; and let us never boast, except in our God Who saved us.
