Another common problem you need to watch out for is showing favoritism. We’re human and it is easy to favor one person or group over another. We especially shouldn’t show favoritism between your children or between believers. It’s a bad witness and damages people.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a robe of many colors for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him. (Gen 37:3-4)
My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. 3 If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? … 8 Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (Jms 2:1-9)
Jacob (aka Israel) showed so much favoritism to his son Joseph that his other sons hated Joseph and sold him into slavery. They told their dad he was killed (Gen 37:23-32) bringing misery to Jacob (Gen 37:33-34). That’s an extreme example of the damage that favoritism can cause but it should make you think. Even the smallest amount of favoritism is noticed by the person being slighted by you. It may hurt their feelings, cause them to view themselves poorly, or even make them angry. One way or the other, favoritism will damage the one being minimized.
Be on guard against showing favoritism of any kind – blatant or subtle, between children, or between believers since it will damage people. Watch out for it within yourself. Ask a close believer to help identify if you show favorites or not. You are called to love all believers equally and not show favoritism.
Think about it
Do you understand the damage favoritism can bring?
Are you alert for it in yourself?
Was there a time in your life when somebody diminished you compared to somebody else? How did that make you feel?
Do you ever show favoritism to your children? To people at the expense of others?
How can you fight favoritism?
Love all non-believers equally:
“Which command is the most important of all?” 29 “This is the most important,” Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” (Mk 12:28-31)
Love believers equally as Jesus has loved you:
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:34)
BIBLE DEVOTIONS FOR LIVING 