Daily Devotional | Showing Favoritism

For about six years I coached my son’s baseball team. When they were older, we used sabermetrics to choose the best ball players based upon statistics. Before this evaluation method was introduced in 1980, scouts would select players based upon “how they looked.” But that could be problematic. A player might look good in practice but not perform well when the pressure was on.

How do we assess the value of others? James 2:1 instructs us to view people as God does. “Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” We are to follow God’s example and look at what is meaningful. We are to look at the heart, not at the clothes a person can afford or the jewelry they are wearing. When we give preference to the rich, we are showing favoritism to people because of superficial reasons. Some think that by showing favors to the wealthy, they will get something in return. This puts trust in them and their riches rather than in God.

In James’s day, the rich often exploited the poor to satisfy their own sinful indulgences. Paul reminded the Corinthians, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:26–27).

If God shows favor to the weak, why would we prioritize the ungodly rich? We are to treat everyone equally. If God has blessed you with wealth, honor Him with your riches. If God has made you rich in faith but poor in material wealth, praise His name!