Jesus Christ is Lord: Jesus, please help me to not show favoritism.

Chapter 23 – Jesus please help me to not show favoritism.

Last evening as I was scrolling through You Tube, I ran across a clip of two men talking about avoiding favoritism and partiality. As I listened to them as they discussed this subject, I got the prompting in my spirit to write about it in this week’s blog post.

One of the best examples of the impartiality of Jesus is the account of Him stopping on the way to the house of Jairus a Synagogue ruler to heal a poor woman with an issue of blood. Here is the account of that story from the book of Luke:

Luke 8:40–56 (ESV)
⁴⁰Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. ⁴¹And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, ⁴²for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. ⁴³And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. ⁴⁴She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. ⁴⁵And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” ⁴⁶But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” ⁴⁷And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. ⁴⁸And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” ⁴⁹While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” ⁵⁰But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” ⁵¹And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. ⁵²And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” ⁵³And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” ⁵⁵And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. ⁵⁶And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Jesus took the time to minister to the woman in need, causing the Synagogue ruler to have to wait for the healing of his daughter. Jesus did not favor Jairus over the woman in need. Here is another admonition to avoid favoritism, found in the book of James:

James 2:1–13 (NLT)
¹My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? ²For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. ³If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, ⁴doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? ⁵Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? ⁶But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? ⁷Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? ⁸Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁹But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. ¹⁰For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. ¹¹For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So, if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. ¹²So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. ¹³There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

Hebrews 13:1–6 (NLT)
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ³Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Heavenly Father, please help each one of us to be ever aware of the temptation to show favoritism. And may we rely on the power of Your Holy Spirit to help us treat each individual as a valuable person in Your eyes! Amen.