October 29, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

James 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4)

Forgive me for posting so much Scripture today, but the only way to understand the evil thoughts today’s verse mentions is to understand its context. Respecting wealthy people simply because they are wealthy and/or disrespecting poor people simply because they are poor is just simply wrong. It is wrong on many levels. The Word of God says that those who do such are judges of evil thoughts.

Limited space prohibits developing this properly. Suffice it to say however that impressing the wealthy and diminishing the poor is a result of improper judgment. A person is supposed to render rulings based upon truth. Someone who judges a person based upon their apparel and jewelry makes such judgments based on their personal evil thoughts. There are people who dress like they have no riches, yet are extremely wealthy. There are people who dress like they have millions, yet they are financially broke. Appearance is deceptive.

 I recall a story told in a sales training class of a Rolls Royce salesman. He was in his showroom and a man came in to look at the models they had on the floor. The salesman held him in disdain as one who could never afford such a fine and expensive vehicle. The man was dirty, his hair was a mess, his clothes were workmanlike, he was unshaven and his hands were filthy. The man stayed for a while, looked at all the cars, and then left without saying a word. As the man was leaving the showroom the owner of the dealership was coming in. He made a direct path to the salesman and asked what that departing man said. “He said nothing.”  The owner asked, “Did you talk to him, invite him to test drive a car, or allow him to sit in the vehicles?”  “No,” said the salesman, “he was only a bum.”  The owner said, “That was not a bum that was the richest man in our state, he is worth over a billion dollars.”  He missed an opportunity because that salesman was a judge of evil thoughts.

Consider also that the above Scriptures are in reference to a worship service, the assembly of believers together in that which we call church. Jesus died for all men universally, He desires to save all men eternally, and He deals with all men personally. He does not judge men based upon that which He can “get out of them.”  Why should we?

Be careful of partiality based upon appearance. You may be found to be …judges of evil thoughts of which no good can come.

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William Howe