Getting It Done

Dream Big, Work Hard, Play Fair, Have Fun, Make a Difference

Scripture Thought for the Week: "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism." James 2:1

When I was in 7th grade I vividly remember going into the field at the back of the school during recess/recreation time. Elementary school extended from 1st through 7th grade in rural Virginia (in my day). There was no middle school or junior high for those of us raised in the country in the 1960's! As we gathered underneath a big oak tree, softball was the chosen sport for participation on this particular afternoon. Not having played the game very much, I was extremely nervous when I came up to bat. With all eyes on me, I struck out each time. When the next school day brought another opportunity for recess, you could imagine my surprise when the game of choice turned out to be softball once again! However, this time two team captains were chosen and I stood with my class as the number of us dwindled to one person standing to be picked.....me. What extreme humiliation for an adolescent ego. I never once played the game at school again for fear of that same feeling of embarrassment. Consequently, if I am still penning this story fifty years later we can agree the hurt I felt has left quite the emotional scar! As an impressionable and fragile eleven year old, I felt that being introduced to a game of which I had limited knowledge and ability was unfair. Added to the unfairness, being picked dead last on the second day of softball reeked of favoritism. The team captains were gathering players that they felt would secure a victory at the end of recess! Christians, regardless of age, must encompass non-favoritism when incorporating the element of fair play. When favoritism raises its ugly head, love and kindness lose a foothold and there is not enough room for favoritism and love to co-exist. The second chapter of James is devoted to this subject. Love and mercy are the key elements in overcoming this type of discrimination. Once love and mercy take a seat at the head table, playing fair will naturally be drawn to them. Why would playing fair be listed among the five suggested ways of getting the job done for Christ? Reflecting on our first component to get the job done, dreaming big covers imagining ways to serve the Lord outside the box of our comfort zone. Working hard, our

second ingredient, includes the possible physical labor we extend when doing good deeds and actions for others. However, as we add the term favoritism when considering the aspect of playing fair, we appear to have a brand new spin on our objective. James, the brother of Jesus, thought the subject was important enough that he wrote a chapter about Christian behavior when it comes to the treatment of others. Since James can "bring it" when it comes to teaching, I will conclude with his words from Chapter 2 from the book that bears his name in the Bible. Playing fair is of utmost importance for Christians of all ages regardless of the activity, the occasion or to whom the action is intended. God is love and others will see Jesus in us as we demonstrate this attribute. Quoting from James (NIV); "Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers." "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:2-4; 8-9; 12-13.

Thank you, Father, for a gentle reminder of how badly I felt when mercy and kindness were needed in my life and was not received. Even though we excuse children due to their age and lack of experience when it comes to showing kindness and nonfavoritism, aid us as adults to demonstrate those qualities before them. May all our experiences lead us to be better Christians when we have an opportunity to display kindness, love and mercy to our fellow man. In Jesus' name, Amen.