The Sin of Showing Favoritism.

Introduction: We all have favorite things, activities, and people in this life (e.g. pizza, golf, best friends) We all have favorite things, activities, and people in this life (e.g. pizza, golf, best friends) Having favorites is not wrong, but practicing FAVORITISM is! Having favorites is not wrong, but practicing FAVORITISM is! –Favoritism is referred to as PARTIALITY in the Scriptures (e.g., Rom. 2:11). –Partial -- “Favoring one side; prejudiced; biased.” (Webster) Favoritism is a problem (James 2:9) that is often underestimated and not treated seriously. Favoritism is a problem (James 2:9) that is often underestimated and not treated seriously.

Deuteronomy 10:17 (NASB) “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. “

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #1 Race or Color of Skin: Acts 10:28, (NASB) 28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean… 34 And opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him.

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #2 Economic Status: #2 Economic Status: James 2:1-4 (NASB) 1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism (partiality – NKJV). 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives.

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #3 Social Status: Job 34:16-19 (NKJV) 16 "If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words: 17 Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? 18 Is it fitting to say to a king, 'You are worthless,‘ And to nobles, 'You are wicked'? 19 Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands.

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #4 Education: John 7:14-15 (NASB) 14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 15 The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?" Acts 4:13 (NASB) Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #5 Where a Person is from: John 1:45-46 (NASB) 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him," Come and see. "

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #6 Physical Appearance: John 7:24 (NASB) 24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." - cf. Isa. 53:2 Are you a good judge of character? Are you a good judge of character? Rather than “judge a book by its cover” we should look beyond the surface (e.g., facial features, stature, clothes, etc.). Rather than “judge a book by its cover” we should look beyond the surface (e.g., facial features, stature, clothes, etc.).

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #7 Family Ties: Matt 12:46-50 (NASB) 46 While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 And someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #8 Talents: 1 Cor 12:20-23 (NASB) 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness,

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #9 Preachers: 1 Cor 1:10-15 (NASB) 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 that no man should say you were baptized in my name.

10 Problem Areas of Favoritism. #10 Church Discipline / Correction: 1 Tim 5:19-21 (NASB) 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning. 21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. – cf. 2 Thes. 3:14-15

The “Cure” for Favoritism. #1 Love Your Neighbor As Yourself. James 2:8-9 (NASB) 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. - cf. Luke 10:29; Rom. 13:8

The “Cure” for Favoritism. #2 Practice the Wisdom from Above: James 3:13-17 (NKJV) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self- seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

The “Cure” for Favoritism. #3 Remember That God Will Judge You without Favoritism! Rom 2:9-11 (NASB) 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. -- cf. Mat. 7:1-2

Let Us Put Away All Favoritism and Strive to Be Like God Himself: “… The God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality…” (Deuteronomy 10:17).