“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain
Favoring Myself
“My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?” James 2:1
Yesterday in Sunday school, we studied James 2. Yes, the entire chapter. I don’t know why we talked about the whole chapter, because I had trouble getting past the first verse before I felt convicted.
Most of that conviction came as I felt God reminding me of the way I treat certain people. It seems I’m a master at showing favoritism. How easy it is to favor those who favor me, approve of my ministry or writing and have a similar sense of humor. And I’m always in favor of those who know me best and still, for some unknown reason, choose to not only love me, but also like me.
However, this flies in the face of the basic teachings of Scripture. James, in writing to his fellow Jewish Christians, shows how partiality, favoritism and discrimination breaks the law of God – the law that tells us to love our neighbor as our self. Furthermore, James uses a Greek construction in this verse that shows he is not prohibiting something they may do, but forbidding a practice that is already in progress.
Perhaps this is why the verse bothered me: I knew I was already in violation of God’s law.
I’ll admit that I take a bit of comfort knowing that most everybody I know shows favoritism in some way or fashion. Many of us find it compelling to become the friend of the richest person in church, for who knows what favors they could bestow upon us. A new job? Some financial help? The opportunity to meet other rich, equally important people? Conversely, I’ve watched rich people treated with disdain by those who envy them. Both responses lack the character of Christ.
Furthermore, I’ll confess right up front that I’m rather fond of those who are fond of me. I like people who feed my ego, are nice to my family, support my causes, laugh when I laugh and cry when I cry. I have no need to be with people who laugh when I hurt or mock my beliefs, ridicule my background or show contempt for my friends. Quite simply, I favor those who favor me, and by doing so, I’m simply favoring myself.
This, of course, is not the example set by Jesus. His attitude was to let go of His equality with God (Philippians 2:6) and hang around with sinners and lepers, the demon possessed and desperately frail. He did not shy away from those who did not support Him or doubted His words. He didn’t ignore those who questioned His sanity, gossiped about His upbringing, laughed at His teachings or falsely accused Him of blaspheming God. Instead, He chose to forgive them before they even had a chance to ask (Luke 23:34).
If I intend to adequately represent Christ to the people around me – at work, church, school, sporting events or grocery store – I need to remember these words of Paul: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Only by putting the needs of others above myself will I finally show the true love of God. Then, the next time I read James 2, I might be able to get past the first verse with a clear conscience.
Thinking Out Loud 
Good word Jim.
Maybe this story will help others understand why you should not show favoritism, in fact James 2:1 in the New Testament, says favoritism is forbidden!
The Story:
An old man poorly dressed, wearing a look of a laborer on his face, because he looked the part of a person that work out of doors. One day he walked into this company where they sold expensive yachts. Entered the showroom and walked pass five salesmen sitting in a circle telling joke and having fun. He went to a yacht with a price tag of $250 thousands, and looking at three different yachts for 30 minutes, walked out, passing the salesmen chatting and still having fun.
Two weeks later the old man returned looking the same, wearing the same clothes. As he approached the door the new salesman standing near the door said, “Good Morning may I help you, sir.” The old man said yes “I was in and looked at your yachts and I have made a decision, and I know the one I wish to purchase. I want the one you have priced at $250 thousands and I want to pay cash, because I sail a lot and don’t need the headaches, taking time to send in payments.”
The new salesman wrote up the purchase and made his first sale.
So true. We all practice favoritism in one way or another. It’s a story as ancient as time… I’ve been studying Genesis and can’t help but think of Isaac and Rebbeka favoring and pitting their sons against one another… and then of Jacob favoring Rachel over Leah… and then Joseph over the other sons… even within the bonds of familial ties, favoritism has been rampant. I think Satan uses this tool masterfully to keep the saints from being effective for Christ.
Only in completely dying to self can we realize a life without partiality.
Great post, Jim!
Hmmm… I have heard that there were a sort of heiracy with Jesus… I mean like there was the multitude… the twelve, the three Peter James and John and that John was closest to his heart. I don’t recall seeing this particulary in any scriptures, but it was preached that way.
I wonder though.. is it possible to NOT show favoritism… i mean we all have our comfort levels. Perhaps the issue is justice or the lack thereof. In other words if I would give Jim Thornber $50 if he needs it cause he’s my guy and I like the way he thinks and searches matters out… it’s only wrong if I DON”T give it to some cat whom I think is simple… though he may have the exact same need for the exact same reason. As long as I am willing to be equitable about my actions I believe is what counts.
Is that unjust? I kinda doubt it. Love endures and we are to show love and justice to everyone. Like enjoyes and as such at least seems worthy of discrimination. We can indeed learn from those who disagree with us.. and they may become allies as well. But we don’t have to like and favor people who we have nothing in common with for the sake of being “overly righteous.”
What do you think?