Have you ever been guilty of showing favouritism / partiality to one person over another? I suspect that many of us would be honest enough to say that we have; yet, it is something that ought not to feature in the lives of Christians.

It is contradictory to say that we are a follower of Jesus Christ and yet show acts of favouritism. Even His enemies said of Him: ‘Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men’, Matthew chapter 22 verse 16. They were not, of course, speaking in sincerity or in praise of Him; nevertheless, they were saying things about Him that were true. They knew full well that He did not show partiality in His judgements.

Jesus grew up in the despised city of Nazareth and called Matthew, a hated tax collector to follow Him. He spoke to a despised Samaritan woman, touched a leper and preached the gospel to the poor. Even though He was the Lord of Glory, He never once showed partiality. He fulfilled the Law: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’.

We are not surprised, therefore, to discover that James, the Lord’s earthly brother, wrote these words to Christians: ‘LISTEN, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man’, James chapter 2 verses 5-6. Yes, sadly, it is possible for even Christians to break God’s royal law of love and to show acts of favouritism.

Let us pray for the grace to LISTEN to James’ command and show a real determination to be honorable in our dealings with each other!