THE ROYAL LAW

 James 2:1-13

Monday, 01 September 2025

‘If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well’     -James 2:8

Laws are applicable to any society that needs to function well which otherwise brings chaos. In a believer’s life too, though he is no longer under the Old Law (given through Moses), he is obligated to fulfilling the Royal Law- the law of the King of his life- Christ Jesus!

Christ Jesus Himself while on the earth summed up all of the Law in two simple ones: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor! Our love for God which lies on the vertical plane of our affections has to be balanced with our love for our fellow men which lies on the horizontal plane. In 1 John 4:20 it is clearly stated: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” The practical dimension of our love for God is to be seen in our attitude and acceptance of our fellow humans who are created in the image of God- whether they are poor or rich, black, brown or white, of a different nation or culture and so on.

Apostle James tries to correct believers in their practice of favouritism, discarding the Royal law. In applying the Royal law to our lives, the Golden rule is also embedded: Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about (Matt.7:12 CEV). Christ bought us all- poor or rich- with His precious blood and made us part of His family. Hence acceptance of all in the love of Christ is what James is advocating for.

Our attitudes and actions are to be governed by this Royal Law of Love. Romans 13:8-10 is quite explicit in explaining this: ‘Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.’ How our lives would reflect our Master if we would follow these principles!

When this text point to certain “don’ts”, there are certain “dos” the believer needs to positively practice. Look at Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”- in bearing, there is a “weight” to be carried —an unease we have to bear to be of help to one another. It may call for getting out of our comfort zones and going the extra mile to render help. But that is when we truly fulfill the law of Christ. Christ laid down His life in order to get us back to a relationship with God- He is our example (1 John 3:16). He bore the sin and shame on the cross that each of us would receive salvation and be reconciled to God—that is sacrificial love!

As we meditate this Scripture today, let’s look at how to apply the Royal Law in our lives: first it’s to keep ourselves from wronging our brothers and sisters with our attitudes and actions; secondly it’s to bear one another’s burdens in practical ways. Think of how your love for God can be expressed in tangible ways to the one in need of it! And do it!

Thought for the Day: Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do. ~David Wilkerson