JAMES 2:1-4
“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?”
To prejudge someone is to determine their
The Bible calls favoritism a
Acts 10:34
“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right”.
JAMES 2:5-7
“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?”
1-Timothy 5:21
“I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.”
As Christians we are called to
Romans 2:11
“For God does not show favoritism”.
Acts 4:13
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
Favoritism reveals a
We can overcome the problem of favoritism by
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- According to the Bible, how am I to view and treat people?
- How do you respond when you encounter people who are different based on their ethnic background, skin color, financial status?
- How did Jesus treat people? Discuss examples from his life.
- Parents - do you show favoritism to one child over another?