Genesis Series Part 51: Favoritism

Yesterday, my caregiver gave some of my cards to, first, her boss Galyna, then I think some of her supervisors. Galyna and supervisors I pray that you will be encouraged by the writings! Time to dive in! And I also want to give a shout out to Kemmy. She is now my other caregiver while Aundrewell only gone for some time. Can me and pray that you'll be encouraged by the writings, and I also pray that you will be able to help me out like with putting my reading and my phone like Aundrewell does when my fingers don't act right.

So, yeah I told you guys I was going to revisit our friend, Joseph, and his story. Remember? Okay, today I want to talk about favoritism and how God feels about that. To be honest, I'm a bit all over the place and confused in my thinking. But, I'm going to trust that with some research from the Bible, that will help me understand better and will clear things up.

First of all, what does God exactly think about favoritism? I don't think he likes it. Why? Well, favoritism is like singling one person out and preferring that person over other people. Are you kind of like discriminating people then? Like, if they have a different race or class or a lot of money. That type of stuff.

I don't know.  That just doesn't seem right. That doesn't seem like something God would do or want. Do you know what I mean? I think of the words he says about God loving us all. It doesn't say God loves this person more than the other person. Does it? No, it doesn't.  Romans 2:11 says God does not show favoritism.

The Bible is clear that favoritism is not God’s will for our lives. First, favoritism is incongruent with God’s character: “God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11). All are equal before him. Ephesians 6:9 says there is no favoritism with him. Colossians 3:25 teaches God's fairness in judgment. It says "anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism."

The Old Testament provides similar instruction regarding favoritism. Leviticus 19:15 teaches, “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” Exodus 23:3 likewise commands, “Do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.” Ah, treat the poor man the same as you would treat the rich man.

See, if you show favoritism then that leads to sin. James 2;8-9 says that favoritism is a serious offense against God's call to loved one's neighbors as oneself. We, fellow Christians. are called to show love.

Yes, I know it is difficult because we are human and we like to conjure up in our minds criteria from other people that gives us the opportunity to judge other people. And, God doesn't want that.  God doesn't do that.  God sees the good in all of us. That is what he wants us to see in other people.

Actually, I struggle with that sometimes. I'm thinking I'm not the only one. And when that happens, I feel bad. My husband will tell me sometimes when I call him out on something bad he did. He notices that I point out or remember the bad things he's done. But in reality, friends, I'm thinking I need to point out the good things he's done and keep letting him know that he is greatly appreciated.

Anyway, I guess Joseph from the Bible, was favored by his father. So was that a bad thing? I'm thinking that was a bad thing because remember God doesn't like favoritism?  Jacob favored Joseph so much. Look what that led to.  His brothers started hating Joseph and later on selling Joseph. The end result of his life ended wonderfully, but that doesn't always happen. Don't show favoritism. Showing favoritism doesn't always end up in happy endings!

TBC...............