Don't Show Favoritism

James 2:1 “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.”

            O Lord, keep me from this.  Favoritism among Christians is an ugly thing and has no place.  The ground is level at the foot of Your cross.  There are no longer genders, races, or preferences to one over another with You.  We are ALL sinners saved only by Your grace!

            If a Haitian who has absolutely nothing comes to know You, he is my brother and I should show honor to him as I honor You for You are “in him”.  If he and someone like Franklin Graham were to come to me at the same time, neither is to be given honor over the other.  We are all brothers and sisters.

            Lord, this brings to mind an incident that happened years ago in the Registrar’s office at Liberty University where I worked as the receptionist.  A fairly new Christian lady worked along side me there.  She was a rather intense personality.  One day she was coming back into the office and Dr. Jerry Falwell SR. was coming down our hallway and shook her hand.  Lord, you would have thought that she had seen You in the flesh and You had touched her.  She came running back into the office yelling that Dr Falwell was in the building and had actually shook her hand!  She acted as though we should all stop what we were doing and rush out and bow as he went by.  Dr Falwell would have never wanted that.  The sad thing was that she ran right past one of our poorer students who really needed her help. 

            I have to say here that she has grown tremendously since then and has greatly increased in wisdom.

            Yes, we are to honor our authorities and to give honor where honor is due-but not to the point of preferring one brother over another.