It is weekend date night fine dining style. Looking for nice tables to wine and dine for a big tip. Sell a few amazing steaks, couple bottles of expensive wine and carry on a good conversation for a nice tip. Fine dining leaves only a few chances each night to make money. Then, in walks a couple that looks completely out of place. Dressed for fast food, not fine dining. Judgement sets in. Attitude changes. The romantic evening this couple came to enjoy is diminished from the very start. Favoritism is front and center. Had this couple walked in with a suit, tie, and fancy dress, instantly the night for them starts with your best service. Instead, what is on the outside drives all thought.
Being the professional you think you are, service continues and you make the most out of the table. Dinner ends, you put on a smile, and leave the check. The couple stops you and says, “Thanks for the wonderful service. Sorry we dressed down a bit today. We have been so busy moving that we didn’t have time to unpack. We just haven’t had a chance to celebrate our anniversary from a few weeks back.” They leave a hundred dollar tip and happily leave. Instantly you know they didn’t get your best. You feel ashamed. You judged. You showed favoritism. I judged, I showed favoritism.
This story is one of many I could share. You may not have this exact story, but maybe you showed favoritism at your job, at Church, the store, out and about running errands. Judging a politician simply because they have a (R) or (D) next to their name. At some point we are all guilty of some form of favoritism. What is favoritism? Dictionary defines favoritism as any preferential attitude and treatment of a person or group over another; unjustified partiality (unfair bias). “If you show favoritism, you commit sin” (James 2:9).
“Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Phil. 2:2). True believers are to have and show the same love to everyone, regardless of anyones worldly circumstances. “He loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another” (1 John 4:10-11). We are not to pick and choose how or who to love.
Human relationships can be summed it with God’s supreme law, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). This love is a biblical love. For we are not to love ourselves, a wretched sinner. We are to love our neighbor in a way that we seek to meet their needs as we do our own. Jesus said, “Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matt. 5:42).
“Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you? Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me’ (Matt. 25:44-45). Loving your neighbor is showing no favoritism. We are to love all and help all. Jesus said, “love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44). One who is merciful proves a transformed life. “For judgement is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy” (James 2:13). Mercy is compassionate treatment to those in need. Favoritism leads to lack of mercy for some. Lack of mercy leads to judgement.
God is impartial. Favoritism is inconsistent with Christian living. Favoritism is sin. Sin brings judgement. “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). Repent, live a life of mercy, kindness, graciousness. Love your neighbor by meeting needs the same way you seek to meet your own needs. Triumph over favoritism.
