October 06, 2025 | Be God's Family
Forbidden Favoritism
Scripture: James 2:1-7(NIV)
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 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?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
Devotional
So often we make snap judgements of other people. We judge their clothes, the way they dress, the way they talk, the food they eat. We judge people by their profession.
God does not see us in this way. People are people. We are all children of God. Jesus loves each of us.
I spend a lot of time working with superintendents and foremen on construction sites. These are often men who have worked their way up through the trades. Sometimes they don’t speak with correct grammar. They are in grubby clothes from working on site or in the mud. Others may not give them much thought when looking at them. But by golly, most of these men know their stuff. They are incredibly smart. I often wonder what people think when they see them based on their appearance or their trade. I often like to talk to them about their family.
Each of these people has a story. Each of these people has a family. Each of these people has people who care about them. Each of these people provides a role in society.
God does not show favoritism or preferential treatment. Galatians 3:28 reminds us that “are one in Christ Jesus”. We are all God’s children “for God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11).
This passage reminds us that God has chosen those who are poor. In Biblical times, the poor were the ones who were most often the Jesus followers. He is not saying that the rich cannot follow Jesus or are not chosen by God, but that the rich must have the faith of the poor to be rich in spirt.
How do we not show favoritism with others? How can we treat all as God’s children? How can we use godly discernment when giving to the poor?
Poem
I Wonder What Would Happen
Proverbs 28
Playing favorites is always a bad thing; you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.
Proverbs 28:21
I wonder what would happen with even playing field
No first-choice picks, no last choice shame
But sheer delight in teamwork, not winning every game
I wonder what would happen when all are seen with worth
Not just the bright and beautiful, admired for great looks
But each as image bearer of our God who’s kind and good
I wonder what would happen if all life was respected
The weak, the brave, the strong, the shy
Those blessed with Rachel’s beauty, those with Leah’s weak eye
I wonder what would happen if we saw through God’s lens
The rich man and the beggar, the enemy, the friend
The tax-collector, Pharisee, the maniac, the fiend
I wonder what would happen if the lowest was our quest
To raise another’s stature, stop vying for best
To be content where we’re assigned and welcome every guest
