We all have favorites: favorite flavor of ice cream,
favorite food, favorite restaurant, favorite article of clothing, and yes, your
favorite place to sit in church! Having “favorite
things” is a normal part of life.
However, when favoritism moves from food, clothing, places and such, to
people, everything changes. Truth be told we have all benefited from favoritism
or felt the negative effects of it.
Favoritism, or partiality, is preferring one person or a
group of people over another. Much of
this happens without us being aware of it as we naturally gravitate to certain
people over others. However, the “ugly”
side of favoritism is when it is done on purpose and at the expense of others. This often causes pride in the one favored
and shame in the one who is not. For example,
favored students get more attention and leniency in the grading process, while
neglected students suffer with poor self-esteem and poor grades. The examples go far beyond childhood as we see
those who are considered beautiful, handsome, thin, smart, successful and yes,
white, experience benefits of being favored. While those who are not find
themselves marginalized.
Yet the Gospel screams the radicle and comforting message
that “there is no favoritism with God” (Eph. 6:9b). That’s good news! In writing these words Paul is
telling “masters” that they should not threaten their bondservants. There was a deep social chasm between these
two groups of people. The master was
powerful and affluent, while the bondservant had few rights and had gotten into
that position because they were in debt.
Yet Paul tells them that the Gospel turns the normal status quo on end
by reminding the master that he is indebted to the Master who is heaven: The
same Master as the bondservant! Therefore, do not show favoritism.
The Greek word Paul uses in this verse literally means “to make unjust distinctions
between people by treating one person better than another.” [1] Peter uses the same word
after seeing God bring the Gentile Cornelius to his door (Acts 10:34). James warns against it in the church (2:1,9),
and Jude uses it negatively to call out false teachers (v.9).
As
Believer’s we have been adopted by a God who is not partial (Dt. 10:17) to His
children. He does not show
favoritism! We all started out dead in
our sin and trespasses, “but because of his great love for us, God, who
is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:1,4,5). We all receive the same favor and as His
children “there
is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and
female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).
I find these words very encouraging! God doesn’t have a favorite preacher! God
does not play favorites despite of how it may feel. It’s a fact, the Bible says it clearly, God
delights equally in all His children!
That’s good news!
No comments:
Post a Comment