DO NOT SHOW FAVOURITISM (JAMES 2:5-10)

REFLECTION

Favouritism is a human habit that often goes unnoticed, yet it carries heavy consequences in the eyes of God. It can be defined as giving unfair preferential treatment to some people over others based on factors such as their wealth, appearance, social status, or background. Essentially, it is playing favourites. The theme of “Do not show favouritism” is a direct instruction from the Bible, found in the book of James. The key lesson here is simple yet profound: human value is determined by God, not by worldly possessions or social standing. The book of James was written to early Christians who were struggling with this very issue—they were treating wealthy, well-dressed visitors with great respect while ignoring or mistreating those who were poor. James wrote these words to correct their behaviour and align their hearts with the character of God.

The Divine Perspective

In the selected passage, James challenges our tendency to value the wealthy while disregarding the poor. He writes: “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5, NIV).

This is a powerful reminder that God’s standard of value is completely different from our own. We often judge a person’s worth by their bank balance, their job title, or the clothes they wear. However, God looks at the heart. In His kingdom, those who have nothing in this world are often the ones who rely most deeply on His grace and are therefore “rich in faith.” When we show favouritism, we are effectively saying that our judgement is better than God’s.

The Royal Law and the Weight of Sin

James goes on to explain that favouritism is a direct violation of the commandment to love others. He states: “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers.” (James 2:8-9, NIV).

It is easy to think that showing favouritism is just a minor personality flaw, but the Bible classifies it as a sin. Why? Because it rejects the equality of all people. If we truly love our neighbour as ourselves, we cannot pick and choose who is worthy of that love. Furthermore, James issues a stern warning about the unity of God’s law: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10, NIV).

This means we cannot claim to be “good people” or “righteous” while simultaneously treating others poorly based on their status. If we are partial, we have broken the law of love, which is the foundation of all other commands.

Living Without Favouritism

We see this principle echoed throughout Scripture. In the book of Acts, Peter comes to a life-changing realisation: “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.’” (Acts 10:34-35, NIV). Likewise, Galatians 3:28 reminds us that in Christ, there is neither slave nor free, but we are all one.

Practically, this means we must be intentional about our interactions. Whether at work, at school, or in the church, we should offer the same level of kindness to the person cleaning the floor as we do to the manager in the office. We must avoid forming cliques that exclude people because of their background or appearance. True love is inclusive; it does not draw lines based on what a person has to offer us.

Conclusion

In summary, favouritism is a contradiction of the Christian faith. It blinds us to the worth of our neighbours and places our own shallow judgements above the wisdom of God. To live a life that honours God, we must actively work to remove partiality from our hearts. We must see every person as someone made in the image of God.

I encourage you to take this call to action: this week, make a conscious effort to offer a smile, a kind word, or your time to someone you might normally overlook. Let us choose to love others exactly as Christ has loved us—without conditions and without favouritism.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me regardless of my status or what I have to offer. Please forgive me for the times I have shown favouritism or judged others based on the world’s standards. Open my eyes to see people through Your lens—as individuals who are precious and worthy of dignity and respect. Help me to love my neighbour as myself, without partiality, and to build a heart that reflects Your inclusive love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.