Never judge a book by its cover

I came across a new app of a company that buys used books, dvds and cds and all you have to do is scan the ISBN on the product and it will tell you how much it will buy it from you. So that’s what I did yesterday and I was astonished to find that the books that I thought were worth a lot they didn’t want and then obscure books which I can’t even remember reading, they were going to pay a few pounds for! I guess I should never judge a book by its cover.

It is believed that the phrase was first written by George Eliot in his 1860 novel, The Mill on the Floss.

It is also found in this equally important work stemming from the original character books by Rev Awrdy!

Thomas first saw Terence the Tractor…

…ploughing in a field one day…

…and he said, “My oh my, you do look funny.

Where are your wheels, are your wheels, are your wheels?

However do you move along?

You really do look funny.”

“Don’t be so rude,” said Terence the Tractor

“I don’t have wheels like you

Because my caterpillar tracks are so much better.

And I can go anywhere, anywhere, anywhere

I don’t need rails like you.

One day I will prove it, show you how I do it

Then you will understand…”

(Chorus)

That you don’t judge a book by its cover

Don’t make your mind up too soon

Things aren’t necessarily…

…always what they appear to be

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Don’t make your mind up too soon

Never-Never, Never-Never, Never-Never, Never-Never

Never judge a book by its cover.

Sure enough, one winter’s day

When the snow lay deep and hard

Thomas got stuck, he was in trouble

And who do you think came along, came along

And rescued him that day

The snow didn’t matter to Terence the Tractor

Now Thomas understands…

(Chorus)

That you don’t judge a book by its cover

Don’t make your mind up too soon

Things aren’t necessarily…

…always what they appear to be

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Don’t make your mind up too soon

Never-Never, Never-Never, Never-Never, Never-Never

Never judge a book by its cover.

Let’s turn to the Bible!

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. ² 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. ³ 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,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2 v 1-4)

James must have heard that something of plain snobbery was taking place in the churches. Following on from the command “to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” he uses this illustration to make that point. This is the pollution of the world that we need to watch out for.

He begins by urging us not to show partiality, as you hold to the faith in Christ, or as you remain faithful, don’t be showing favouritism. 

Interestingly the word partiality/favouritism in Greek derives from two other Greek words meaning ‘face’, and ‘take/admit/receive’, so literally it means to take or receive a person according to their face. 

James says don’t treat people any differently because of who they are, whether that be the way they look or dress, how much wealth they have, their race, religion, gender, sexuality, physical ability. Don’t display partiality thinking that these things somehow determine the way we see others, and treat others. 

We have a few other words that describe this behaviour:

Bias, discrimination and prejudice. When we use these words it sounds a little stronger doesn’t it. But really this is how favouritism can be defined here.

And James says, don’t do it. Don’t be polluted by this attitude of the world. Be different. Don’t make up your mind too soon about a person. Never judge a book by its cover.