“But you have insulted… (James 2:6)” people in the act of favoritism. Favoritism is not preferring chocolate more than vanilla. Favoritism is, to use an ugly word of today, as bad as racism. Jacob by giving Joseph the coat of many colors, offends social protocol and legal protocol of the time that gave preferential treatment to the first son of the first wife. Favoritism devalues others.
Perhaps if we look at the image of the body, the body of Christ. Favoritism does not recognize the interrelatedness of life. Each part of the body has a task, some more recognized than others, many more valued than others but when a part of the body has trouble then we know we are interrelated. I fell and wrenched my back and the sciatica nerve has been screaming at me for several days. Suddenly standing up, sitting down, navigating walking has become very painful Life is difficult. That nerve is insulted and will drive me to the doctor!
In Kenya, you would insult someone by comparing them to a dumb animal. Favoritism not only dismisses relationship it diminishes the other person. Perhaps our challenge is to see the uniqueness and value of all we encounter today. A simple exercise would be to shoot a simple, one line thank you prayer for each person, or pet, or sunset or… that touches your heart today. Thank you, Lord, for my friends who are so faithful! Blessings.
In Kenya, you would insult someone by comparing them to a dumb animal. Favoritism not only dismisses relationship it diminishes the other person. Perhaps our challenge is to see the uniqueness and value of all we encounter today. A simple exercise would be to shoot a simple, one line thank you prayer for each person, or pet, or sunset or… that touches your heart today. Thank you, Lord, for my friends who are so faithful! Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 