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Wrong Compensation

Read: James 2:8-11

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 “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the people of your kin, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD" Leviticus 19:18, NIV

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It’s been said: “In the wild plains of Africa or Asia, one of the most emotionally intelligent and relational animals you’ll find is the elephant. Elephants live in tight family units, and they’re known for incredibly deep bonds. But here’s something remarkable: when a baby elephant is orphaned or abandoned, the herd doesn’t cast it off. They take it in. The aunties—the older female elephants—circle around the orphan, protecting it, nurturing it, even mourning with it. They guide it, shelter it, feed it—just like they would their own. It doesn’t matter that the baby isn’t biologically theirs. It doesn’t matter that it’s not “useful” to the herd yet. It’s loved. That kind of compassion in the animal kingdom is rare—and it’s beautiful. But for us, it’s more than biology. It’s theology.” 1

 

Today as we continue in James’s epistle we see the church in Jerusalem was having issues with trying to compensate for wrong behavior. However, James tells them, and us, to live by the Golden Rule.

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Big Idea:    Trying to Compensate for Wrong Behavior is Counter-Productive.

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Unfortunately, sometimes a person can try and do good things to make up for improper things. However, they are still doing wrong because breaking even one law is guilty of breaking all of it.

 

Look at what James says in v. 9: “If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”  (NIV)

 

Trying to earn favor by following the letter of the law will only lead to death, because to even break one law and sin, and obligates a person to following the whole law. Which we know no person could do perfectly. He kind of gives two different examples of following the law. Mosaic Law, and the Law of Grace.

 

The mosaic Law is the legalistic following of every rule that had accumulated over the years. He even gives examples using murder and adultery, doing one but not the other is still breaking the law. (See Lev. 19:18, Exodus 20:13-14; Deut. 5:17-18.)

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Insight:  Trying to Live by the Golden Rule is Preferred

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On the contrary, the law of Grace might be exemplified by the Golden rule. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And that mindset usually shows grace because when we treat people like we like to be treated, we are more understanding and tolerant of other’s differences. It will always benefit because following the old law, it’s still wrong behavior and wrong at its core.

 

Descriminating is inconsistent, wicked, selfish, and merciless, just to name a few. Whereas, following the golden rule usually leads to things like loving your neighbor, not being judgmental, avoiding selfishness, or just being merciful. Things that God calls us to in His word.

 

Leviticus 19:18 says: “’You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the people of your kin, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD’”

 

Let us strive to follow God’s lead and seek to live by the Golden Rule. .

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Challenge:   Do we try and compensate for wrong behavior by doing good? What ways can we love others as ourselves? Where do fall on the scale of being judgmental?

 

Pray: Asking God to empower us to avoid compensating for bad behavior and loving others as ourselves in tangible ways.

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Going Deeper:

 

 The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary says:

 

“New commandment. This phrase first appears in words attributed to Jesus in the upper room discourse reported by the fourth evangelist (Jn. 13:34). In an apparent reference to the Decalogue (see Ten commandments) Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another.” Of course, the commandment to love God and one’s neighbor was not new, for it is emphasized in the Pentateuch and the Prophets (esp. Hosea), and restated by Jesus as a summation of the Torah (Deut. 6:5; Hos. 11:4; Matt. 22:37; cf. Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; Jas. 2:8). Jesus did however give this command fresh emphasis, bringing it into sharper perspective: a discriminating love resulting from choice. The newness consists in the source and nature of this love; it is the supreme criterion of one’s relationship to God (1 Jn. 5:3; cf. Lk. 10:27).”  2

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Devotion written by Pastor Frank & Samuel Gervasi

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1. Preachers Corner, www.preacherscorner.org/wagers-ja7.htm , as accessed on 11/28/2025.

2. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, BibleGatewayPlus, www.biblegateway.com, as accessed on 11/29/2025.

3. King of Glory-Soundtrack, Third Day, Matt Powell