Solomon Andria: Keeping the Royal Law

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. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:8-10

“The solution to discrimination in the Christian community is to practice the royal law, the one that says love your neighbor σs yourself. This law is royal because it is one of the two greatest commandments (Matt 22:39) and also because it was given by Jesus Himself.

James’ emphasis emerges again: he does not tell his readers to ‘obey’ the law but to keep it, or in other words, to put it into practice. If they keep this law, Christians will not discriminate. If they do discriminate, they are disobeying the law. Christians of Jewish origin were eager to keep the law, but had failed to recognize that discrimination is as serious a sin as adultery or murder and that by breaking this one law they were guilty of breaking the whole law.

James encourages the believers to be careful in their relationships because one day they will have to give God an account of what they have done, and will be judged not according to the law of Moses, but by the law that gives freedom. He warns them that God will judge those who discriminate. Someone who shows favoritism insults the dignity of others and judges them. That person will in turn be judged by God.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Solomon Andria helps us with our understanding of this Scripture. The operative word here is keep.

Too many people think that what matters is their beliefs. Nothing could be further from the heart of God. Even the demons believe. He cares about our behavior as judgment links not to our believes but our behavior.

Do I have your attention? Good! James tells us what mattes is keeping the royal law (instructions of Jesus).

In plain terms, the head of the early church in Jerusalem, James, felt like the most important thing was to obey the words of Jesus. They called it the royal law. So imagine the judgment for not caring about it!

Trainings going well in Cameroon. Thanks for your prayers.

Our Stewardship and Standards event will be televised today. Big deal. Pray it goes well. Pray God is glorified. Pray it inspires workers to put their houses in order with standards for sustainability.

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old 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, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? James 2:1-7

“James presents a hypothetical situation in which a rich and a poor man come into a meeting. There would be nothing unusual about this, for there were certainly rich believers. If the attitude of the leaders was to favour the rich to the detriment of the poor, they were guilty of discrimination, which James condemns as offensive. The sin is in the fact that these leaders, whom the author calls my dear brothers, have set themselves up as judges by elevating the rich and insulting the dignity of the poor. God is on the side of the poor, not because they are poor but because they are responsive to him and are near the Kingdom.

If they are rich in faith, they inherit the Kingdom. God rejects the rich, not because of their riches but because they commit violent acts: they are exploiting you … dragging you into court, … slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong. The ‘name’ to which James is referring is the name of Jesus Christ. The rich assume that their wealth entitles them to do what they like and that they are not subject to the same rules as others.

Christian communities in Africa are not immune to this sometimes unconscious discrimination in favour of the rich since the power of money is strong when many are poor. The rich are easily noticed and gain the respect of leaders. Then the poor find themselves shoved to one side because, as the proverb says, ‘thin cows are not licked by their friends’. They are ignored because they are ‘thin’ and cannot make a financial contribution to the community.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

So far so good in Africa. Thanks for your prayers for me and the African staff and regional workers that I am mentoring this week. Let me tell you about one of them.

Romeo Nkongnou lives here in Cameroon. He’s an enthusiastic emerging Christian worker. He took GTP courses, started moderating them for others, and then agreed to serve as Global Trainer and French Programs Manager for GTP.

Romeo gets it and wanted me to come train him to spread trainings 2×2 with country coordinators across the regions. Today we wrap up the first training, Journey of Empowerment (JOE).

JOE has four lessons: (1) You matter! (2) You are part of something bigger! (3) We choose God’s path together to make a difference. (4) We hold each other accountable to stay on track.

This is not insignificant in Africa filled with corruption and favoritism, where little gets done without bribes or knowing the right people, and where people get labeled as thin or fat cows. We teach people to train others in a new, biblical way to live.

But let’s face it. Africa and America (and everywhere else) have corruption and favoritism. I appreciated how Solomon spoke of “unconscious discrimination” today. We do it and do not even realize it.

This brings the 2×2 aspect of JOE into view. When we don’t realize we are part of the problem rather than part of the solution, we need others to help us get on track and stay on track. That’s what JOE does.

We have delivered JOE in English with French translation. Learn more about JOE here. Watch a video, download the brochure, and/or register for the next on demand cohort in January 2026.

And in case you missed it, consider joining me on a Journey through Advent. Click here to download my 30-day devotional, Waiting (start reading today on 1 December 2025).

And click here to register for zooms on 8, 15, and 22 December 2025 on which we will explore the topic of Waiting more deeply. You are welcome to attend, one, two, or all three zooms.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:26-27

“Most of the Jews ‘scattered among the nations’ were religious, however, James condemns those who claim to be religious but do not concern themselves with putting their beliefs into practice. Without action, good doctrine is useless. Pure religion shows itself in behavior. He gives an example of the type of behavior he has in mind: looking after orphans and widows.

This example derives from the Old Testament, which commanded God’s people to care for those who had no one to support them financially. Orphans had no fathers, widows no husbands and foreigners no land to cultivate. James does not mention foreigners in this letter because the Christian Jews to whom this letter is addressed were all foreigners themselves.

But pure religion is not just a non-governmental organization, an NGO doing social work. The work done by believers is the product of their faith and the religion is characterized by the holy lives of its members. Briefly put, the Word must produce in us acts that prove our relationship to God and a way of life that glorifies Him.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Today GTP welcomes 27 stewards from across Francophone Africa to Yaoundé, Cameroon. I shot the new header photo from my hotel room (pictured above). In total, 33 people convene from 17 countries get trained to multiply faithful stewards in their countries. Everything we do aims to connect beliefs and behavior.

The first training is called Journey of Empowerment (JOE). We start it this evening and it runs through tomorrow. We deliver it in English with French translation. Learn more about JOE here. Watch a video, download the brochure, and/or register for the on demand cohort.

I appreciate the African mindset that comes out today. Notice that Africans might expect NGOs to take responsibility for widows and orphans. But we think and act the same thing in America and around the world.

We think it is someone else’s job to care for orphans, widows, or other destitute folks. James pins the responsibility on all who wants to have pure and blameless religion. What about you? How might God want you to connect your beliefs and behavior.

One more thing today. Consider joining me on a Journey through Advent. Click here to download my 30-day devotional, Waiting (start reading today on 1 December 2025).

And click here to register for zooms on 8, 15, and 22 December 2025 on which we will explore the topic of Waiting more deeply. You are welcome to attend, one, two, or all three zooms.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

“If we only glance at the Scriptures in a superficial manner, we will not be able to see what God is showing us there or get a good enough grasp of what God is really saying to be able to put his will into practice.

The same truth applies when we walk out of a church service and say, ‘that was a good sermon.’ too often we forget the content of the sermon simply because we make no effort to think about it or understand it thoroughly. We need to make an effort to understand what the word is saying, and after having examined and understood what the word says, we must appropriate it and integrate it into our lives.

If we stop partway through the listening process, we will fail and will live disordered lives. However, if we follow all the steps and put the word that we hear into practice, we will be blessed. After all, God did not give his law to restrict people’s freedom or to estrange them but to regulate daily life and make it joyful.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Don’t look at the Scriptures, especially those linked to stewardship and generosity in a superficial way.

You will not only miss the critical instructions God has for you. You will miss the joy and blessing that comes with obedience.

I am flying somewhere between Brussels, Belgium, and Yaoundé, Cameroon, when this posts.

While traveling I am reviewing my facilitator’s guides to prepare to facilitate Journey of Empowerment (which grows stewards that advance accountability) and Stations of Generosity (which spreads the message of biblical generosity). I am looking intently at all the Scriptures I will share.

Thanks for your prayers for safe travel and my facilitation this week in Cameroon with French translation.

And consider how you will apply what you hear in church today or this weekend when you hear a sermon. Don’t just be a hearer of the work. Do what it says and urge others to join you. Life, joy, and blessing are at stake!

As today marks the first Sunday of Advent, consider joining me on a Journey through Advent. Click here to download my devotional, Waiting (start reading on 1 December 2025).

And click here to register for zooms on 8, 15, and 22 December 2025 on which we will explore the topic of Waiting more deeply. You are welcome to attend, one, two, or all three zooms.

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. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 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 2:8-13

“Favoritism easily becomes corruption. A favor may be given in exchange for a bribe of money or some other commodity. In this case, favoritism is not just a speck in someone’s eye, but a plank (see Matt 7:3-5). There are also more subtle forms Of favoritism. For example, the line between favoritism and honor is not always clear. We owe honor and respect to those whose positions merit it (Rom. 13:7). Thus it is right for us in Africa to show respect for the elderly (1 Tim. 5:1-2). There is no favoritism when people are given what they are entitled to.

But it can be difficult to tell where this justified respect moves over into favoritism. It is all too easy to show favoritism under the pretense that one is merely honoring someone. In the African context, respect for the elderly and for authority may easily lead to this type of favoritism, and the person receiving the favors may enjoy them and see nothing wrong with accepting them.

However, those who are in positions of honor and authority need to be aware of the danger that the treatment they are receiving is actually unmerited favoritism. The fight against favoritism is a major challenge for Christians who are in positions where it is always present. They should make a special effort to live as Christians, in a way that is different from those around them, because they are called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13-16). But what can be done if the salt has lost its saltiness?”

Soro Soungalo (Côte d’Ivoire) in “Favoritism” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

I really appreciated this lesson in advance of my trip to Africa. I depart later this morning.

As I am coming from abroad, my African brothers and sisters may desire to honor me. Often they will say to me that they want to give me a gift. To address this, I say to them, don’t spend any of God’s money on anything for me.

Instead I ask for a license plate from a junked car to add to my prayer wall at home (pictured above).

In this photo you see plates from Africa, Asia, and Oceania. I have two more walls of plates too. One has all the plates of the USA and the other features Europe, Eurasia, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Why give this example? In positions of leadership we can take advantage of that position.

Let’s not do that by taking proactive steps to encourage resource to go to “mission and memories” rather than “perks and privileges.”

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old 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, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? James 2:1-7

“We all regularly encounter favoritism. Sometimes we suffer because of it; sometimes we benefit from it. But it is only when we are the victims that we condemn it. It is easy to benefit from favoritism without even being aware of it. Favoritism manifests itself in various ways. For example someone may be given something they do not deserve simply because they are relatives of or come from the same village or the same ethnic group as the giver. Such nepotism is frequent in Africa. Unfortunately, it is also evident in the church, where people are sometimes given positions because they are recommended by an authority figure, a political official or even the leader of a denomination.

Favoritism is also happens when people cheat and receive something at someone else’s expense. For example, some patients get priority care in public hospitals because they are related to or know the doctor, while others who were there earlier must wait. This is favoritism because it is discrimination. The treatment that is being given to them is being withheld from those who are not associated with a prominent person, or who are simply poor. But everyone should be treated equally. James denounces discriminatiOn and reminds us that God makes no distinction between people but treats us all in the same way.”

Soro Soungalo (Côte d’Ivoire) in “Favoritism” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Happy Black Friday. We love to get poinsettias at Home Depot for $1 and give them to friends throughout the month to bring beauty and joy to their lives. It’s a deal anyone can get. We also do some Christmas shopping. We like the good deals we can get which help us make our budget go further.

But if we got a deal that others cannot access, we participate in favoritism. A good rule of thumb for everyday practice is to give and receive gifts with others but not give or receive anything if it will others feel slighted, taken advantage of, or overlooked.

I am packing for Africa today. At GTP we aim to serve underserved countries and regions. We will convene workers from across Francophone in Cameroon and from across English, Portuguese, and Spanish speaking Africa in Uganda. The goal is to train them to replicate trainings in their countries across the region.

I encourage you to include Africa in your giving this Christmas by making a gift to GTP today. Click here to give and you will help fuel this important work of training stewards to help churches and ministries strengthen accountability and grow generosity in remote and forgotten places.

Don’t just give to the things you care about this year-end. That’s favoritism. Give to the things God cares about too. Add some underserved stewards to your giving radar.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 4:13-18

“God may test, but he never tempts. There is no way in which God can be the source of evil or of our misfortunes. On the contrary, He is the source of every good and perfect gift. He is faithful and does not change, and so He can be trusted to accomplish His plan for our good.

Temptations come when we entertain evil desires. These desires lead us to commit sin, that is, acts that dishonor God and lead to death. We need to seek out and destroy the seeds of envy and lust and create a healthy environment in which the various kinds of evil desires cannot thrive.

Some may doubt the faithfulness of God in moments of testing and trial, so James reminds them that God has chosen to give us birth through the word of truth, which means that He has made us His children so that we may be σ kind of first fruits of σll He created. We will be the peak of His creation, as we were in the time before the fall! What a privilege!”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Happy Thanksgiving.

Pause to give thanks for every good and perfect gift from God. And should you find yourself in a time of testing, give thanks all the more as God uses such times to shapes and grow you.

Are you tempted? Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Otherwise God will let you have what you lust after you, and it may lead to your own self-destruction. Giving can free you from that.

Cut off all money, time, energy, and attention to whatever tempts you. Nurture, grow, and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ through giving. Why? Your heart always follows where you give God’s money.

And take time today to give thanks for the gifts of God but do not stop there. Give thanks for God. He’s the greatest gift. Enjoy Him as the first fruits of creation like Adam and Eve enjoyed Him in the Garden of Eden.

Again, Happy Thanksgiving.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. James 1:9-11

“The first everyday situation to which James speaks is that of concern about social status. Some of those to whom he writes are in humble circumstances; that is, they are poor, with low social status, and may be tempted to envy the rich. James reminds these poor believers that their real value is not based on what they have. God has accepted them into his family, and so they occupy a high position.

They need to remember that those whom the world sees as great are not necessarily great in God’s eyes. In fact, riches can be a temptation for Christians because it is easy to trust in them for security rather than in God. Those who are rich and belong to the upper class of soci- ety would be wise to be prepared for a fall and a drop in status.

The fall of rich people is very common in Africa. James describes the life of a rich person as being like σ wild flower that blossoms for a while and then fades for ever. The rich will die, just like the poor. When the author speaks of the raising of the poor and the bringing down of the rich, he is not endorsing a struggle for a classless society. He does not condemn the rich because they are rich. He simply wants to make it clear that life cannot be based on riches. In the long run, the rich have no advantage over the poor.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

Ponder what our African brother teaches us today. In expounded on these three powerful verses from chapter one of James, we learn that “the rich have no advantage over the poor.”

I might push it one step further. I think the rich have a greater disadvantage because of the human tendency to misplace our trust in riches rather than place our trust in God.

Thank you God for James and how his epistle teaches us the right perspective in a week when our focus is thanksgiving. The more we have, the more self-reliant we become.  Proverbs tells us we forget about God and even disown him altogether.

Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9

Father in heaven, teach us by your Holy Spirit to place our trust in you rather than riches in the short time we live on this earth. Keep falsehood and lies from us and give us neither poverty nor riches, but only our daily bread. When we abound teach us to share generously. When we find ourselves in need, help us wait on you. Hear my prayer in Jesus name. Amen.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

“Each time James tackles a new subject, he begins with the expression my brothers or my deσr brothers. The first subject he deals with is the problem of temptation and trials. But he does not answer the question of how to resist temptations or how to endure trials. Rather, he simply affirms that resisting temptations and enduring trials is a requirement for faith and results in spiritual growth. It will make us mature and complete, he says. This explanation helps us to understand why we must rejoice when we pass through trials.”

Solomon Andria (Madagascar) in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

In my personal study I am reading James this week. In my professional work, I am preparing to serve for two weeks in Africa. So why not spend time reading James with the Africa Bible Commentary.

Solomon teaches us how to read James. Look for the signpost “my brothers or my deσr brothers” or as the NIV renders it “my brothers and sisters” as you read. When you hear that, stop and pay attention.

In love, the half-brother of Jesus wants you to know something really important. Today we learn that trials are a gift. They help make us mature and complete.

Going through a trial? Ask God to help you make the most of it and to learn from it. Know someone going through a trial? Draw near to them. Mostly, keep your mouth shut or ask questions, show empathy, and plant a seed of truth like this one.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers Him from them all. Psalm 34:17-19

Father in heaven, in this season of thanksgiving, thanks for all the good gifts you give us, including trials, which help make us mature and complete, lacking in nothing. Hear our gratitude in the name of Jesus. Amen.

If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? 1 Timothy 3:5

“And if any one know not how to rule his own house. This argument, drawn from the less to the greater, is in itself manifest, that he who is unfit for governing a family will be altogether unable to govern a people. Besides that it is evident that he is destitute of the virtues necessary for that purpose, what authority will he have over the people, seeing that his own house makes him contemptible?”

John Calvin in Commentary on Timothy, Titus, Philemon (CCEL) 62.

Why teach stewardship in churches? Calvin puts his finger on the answer. We do it so people are not destitute of the virtues needed to steward their own home or God’s house.

I have returned safely home from attending ETS and SBL though the conference does not end until Tuesday.

I returned home to wrap up the seven GTP on demand courses that welcomed 841 registrants from 40 countries. One of those courses is called Faith and Finances.

A few years ago, a group of seminaries commissioned me to create the course to address the very issue Calvin speaks about.

If you want to learn more, take the course for free in January 2026. Or encourage anyone you know to take it because to learn to manage the resources of God’s house, we must first put our own house in order.

Registration opens in December 2025 at gtp.org/courses.