Aren't We All Judges with Evil Thoughts?
Why do we smile at the rich and overlook the poor? A reflection on James 2:1-13 and the sin of favoritism.
Oct 19, 2026 · 2 min read
James 2:1–13
This is a reflection on the book of James, chapter 2, verses 1 to 13.
Picture two people walking into church. One is wearing fine clothes and a gold ring. The other is poor, in worn-out clothes. Be honest: which one would we greet first?
It's fair to say that our human nature tends to show favoritism toward certain groups or individuals. We smile at the rich but disregard the poor. Our attention is drawn to the good-looking, the fine clothing, the awards, the titles, the famous, and the celebrities, while we overlook the average and the nobodies.
We could argue that modern society forces us to wear masks, and that we're constantly weighing each other up, so judging one another becomes second nature.
But James tells us here that discriminating among ourselves makes us judges with evil thoughts. He says that God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who love Him. So why would we dishonor the poor and show favoritism?
James explains that showing favoritism is breaking the law. He goes even further: whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. So he encourages us to speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
So ask yourself: who do I overlook?
Remember to love your neighbor as yourself, because mercy triumphs over judgment.
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