What do favoritism and partiality mean?
1 Timothy 5:21, NKJV “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality”.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Favoritism– the showing of special favor
Partiality– the quality or state of being bias
What is the big deal?
How often do we hear there are favorites in the families or on the job? We hear it often. How many times have you thought something about a particular person based on what they were wearing or the vehicle they drive? Have you ever felt or even observed favorites in a family or the popular person in the “circle of friends”? We deal with favoritism and biases often in our own hearts and relationships.
It is not something that is often discussed within families. It actually destroys families and develops envy, heartache, pain, and jealousy. Many parents form this with their children and the siblings begin to catch on to who has become the “favorite, trophy child”.
So what is the big deal? It is wrong. The Bible spells out clearly that we should guard our hearts and actions towards biasness. Our thoughts and motives should be pure.
Partiality affects relationships
James 3:16, NKJV, ” For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy”.
I provided this verse from the Book of James because it is so clear how we should strive to be and what we should avoid. ” Without partiality”. It is imperative to examine our hearts, pray and ask God to remove the things that are not good for us.
I wanted to share some more scripture: James 2:1-9:
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 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. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors”.
Some final thoughts…
I have been on both ends when it comes to this topic. I have judged and asked the Lord for forgiveness. It is wrong and we need to remove these habits from us. Additionally, I have been treated differently because I am NOT a favorite. I have been excluded, indirectly mistreated, and neglected from a relationship God would say is imperative. However, I know the Lord knows my heart and he sees me. He has been so faithful and I know that He will always take care of me. Unfortunately, it is their loss and I have learned that although I may not be what someone wants me to be, I am a CHILD of GOD, Daughter of the King, and wonderfully made! My identity is in Jesus and I do not measure my worth by anything else or anyone else.
My prayer is that you will examine your motives and ask God to remove any partiality you may struggle with. It is not healthy and has no place in the heart of a person especially a follower of Jesus!
❤