November 21
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ON FAVORING OTHERS
A poem by ILMA
How can you claim to have faith in Jesus if you favor some people over others?
Suppose someone comes dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry
Then another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes
If you give special attention to the rich and give the poor discrimination.
Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith?
They’re the ones who will get the Kingdom he vowed to those who love him?
But some dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who repress you and drag you to court Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
It is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures saying
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others
Then, you are committing a sin and is guilty of breaking the law
For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the one who broke it.
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MEMORY VERSE
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. – James 2:8
Read: James 2:1-12
It is interesting how the book of James talks about how we must treat everyone equal and not favor someone over another. How many characters in the bible have been a victim of favoritism? Jacob favored his son Joseph which drove all his other sons to plot to kill him. Rachel favored Jacob and sinned by convincing her own son to steal his brother’s birthright. When we favor someone over another, we are inviting jealousy and other sins.
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REFLECTION
• Why is having favoritism or discrimination a very lethal practice in our world?
• Have you ever experienced to be a favorite? What did it do to the other people around you?
• Have you ever been discriminated or marginalized in your workplace, in your own family or another country you have moved to?
• What causes people to favor someone over others?