PARTIALITY IS A SIN
James 2:1-4
1 My brethren,
do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with
partiality. 2 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,
3 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,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges
with evil thoughts?
Dear people of God, today’s lead Bible text warns us
against partiality or discrimination in our relationships with others
everywhere we find ourselves.
A great many of us unfortunately discriminate against
the less privileged in the society with the way we treat them.
We forget that it is the same God who created them
that created us too and as far as God is concerned all human beings are equal,
whether you are a Country’s President or a destitute on the streets.
In many homes, we see women who show love and care for
their own siblings and relatives staying with them but they cannot stand the
presence of their husband’s relatives who keep away.
This is discrimination and a grave sin.
In Church, we see the pastor treat the rich specially
and are unable to tell them the truth for fear of losing membership and
financial assistance. The same pastor will not hesitate to sanction the church
member of low income status for similar wrong doing as the rich and well to do.
This again, is discrimination and a grave sin. The
pastor forgets that the wealth of the rich is authorized by the same God who is
able to do all things and provide the needs of the Church if Pastor puts in
trust in God and asks in faith!!
The Pastor has forgotten God’s Word that says there is
a curse on anyone who puts his or her trust in a fellow human, makes flesh his
or her strength and whose heart departs from the Lord – Jeremiah 17:5.
We see discrimination in the private and public sector
establishments with the way some employers and bosses treat and reward their
subordinates and especially in Africa, where nepotism and ethnic nationality
determines those who hold leadership positions.
Nepotism also determines who gets contracts to execute
jobs in offices.
Even in families, some show favouritism to some of
their own children over others. At times in Church, it is easy to differentiate
between the children of a couple and the child who is serving as house help. A
look at their dressing will tell the whole story.
God’s Word tells us in James 2:8-9, “If you really fulfill the royal law
according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do
well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law
as transgressors.”
We would do well to obey God’s Word, trust God for all
our needs and treat people equally because we will all give account of how we
have lived in this world and God’s Word in the Holy Bible is the standard to be
used.
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word
today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Most Merciful Name, Amen.
Gabriel
Ama