Truth

Truth

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others? For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If 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, doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?

James 2:1-4

One of the Bible verses I pray back to God each morning comes from a little book that has only one chapter: “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth” (3 John 1:4). I’m grateful that my sons want to walk in God’s truth, but I don’t ever take that for granted. Consequently, I plan to pray 3 John 1:4 as long as I have breath.

Every now and then I get a glimpse of a choice one of my sons makes that prompts me to praise God. That’s exactly what happened yesterday. One of my adult sons—who loves to golf—had been invited to play at a posh, private club. Although he’d been told that there was no cost to him, he later found out that there were strings attached. The more he thought about it, the more he felt obligated to show favoritism in a business deal. Because the whole thing left him feeling uncomfortable, he called his friend, thanked him for his offer, and declined the game. Showing favoritism might have landed Nate a prized round of golf, but he also felt that it would have compromised his values.

It’s easy for us to show favoritism that’s based on a desire for status, wealth, or fame. Such opportunities usually present themselves in subtle and attractive ways. But God warns us that showing favoritism and falling prey to wrong motives goes against Christ’s plan for our lives. Sometimes our kids are good examples to us.

Father,

Please help us not to show favoritism but to treat each person in our lives with fairness and truth. Amen.