Love others as you love yourself1My brothers, because you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, be sure not to favour some above others.2For example, suppose someone was to come to one of your meetings expensively dressed and with gold jewellery, while another came in shabby clothes.3-4If you were to give special attention to the wealthy one by giving him a good seat, while telling the poor man to stand or sit on the floor, have you not made a false distinction between them? Have you not dealt with them out of wrong motives?5Listen to what I say, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those the world regards as poor to be rich in faith and to inherit the Kingdom He promised to those who love Him?6But if you were to act in such a way, you would insult the poor and allow the rich to exploit you!7And they are the ones who drag you before the courts and slander the name of the One to whom you belong!8You do well to obey the royal law revealed in scripture, "Love others as you love yourself."9However, you sin if you are guilty of favouritism. For God's law not only tells you what to do, but also convicts you as a lawbreaker when you disobey His Word.10For even if you do all He says and yet fail in only one thing, you are still guilty of breaking the law.11So God said, "Do not commit adultery," and He also said, "Do not murder." If you resisted committing adultery but murdered someone, you have still broken the law.12You will be judged by the law that gives freedom; so you need to speak and act accordingly.13For those who have not been merciful will be judged without mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment!Faith is proved genuine by what you do14My brothers, of what value is the faith a man claims to have if that faith is not reflected in his actions? Does he really possess the faith that can save him?15For example, suppose a brother or sister needs clothing and food.16If any one of you was to say, "God bless you; keep warm and well fed," but did nothing to relieve his physical needs, what good would your faith be?17So you can see that unless faith gives birth to action, it is dead!18Someone may say, "You have faith; I do practical things." Well, show your faith without positive actions and I will show you that my faith is genuine because of what I do!19You believe there is only one true God. Good! But even demons believe that, and they tremble with fear before Him.20How foolish you are if you need any further evidence to see that faith that does not lead to positive actions is useless.21Surely our forefather Abraham was considered acceptable to God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice!22You can tell from his example that his faith led to positive action. Faith and action were working together. His faith was only complete because of what he did.23This is how he fulfilled the scripture that says, "Abraham believed God and so was considered to be righteous." And God called him His friend because of his obedience.24You see, a person can only please God and be right in His eyes through what he does, as well as through what he believes.25God even considered the prostitute Rahab to be acceptable in His eyes because of her actions in hiding the spies and then sending them away by a safe route. Is that not so?26Therefore, just as a body without a spirit is dead, so faith that is not expressed in positive action is also dead.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)