Text: Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (partiality) (Acts 10:34).
What does it mean to show favoritism or to be partial?
If we do not treat people equally, but instead show more kindness, consideration, and respect for some and not for others, then we are showing favoritism. Also, when we do for some and not for others, we are being partial to a certain person or to a certain group people.
Favoritism can and does occur in a number of places. For example, favoritism can occur within a family. For whatever reason, a son can be favored over a daughter or visa-versa. The first-born child might receive more attention and material possessions than the other children in the family.
A child with a physical defect could be singled-out and treated different, either positive or negative or better or worse, than another child in the same family. In some cases, the healthy child is treated better and receives more consideration than the child who has a physical ailment.
Children are given different talents. Some children are good at singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, doing gymnastics, swimming, playing sports, or maintaining high scholastic standings. At times, children with certain talents are placed on a pedestal by their family, teachers, or instructors.
I am not saying this is bad, but what I am saying is children who do not have these talents or gifts should not be looked down-on by their parents, peers, or other children.
God has given each person a special gift or talent and it sometimes takes a while for that gift to surface. We are all God’s children and He has blessed each of his children with a gift for them to use to His glory.
Ephesians 4:11 says, “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers…” We have not been given the same gift or talent for service. However, we are to use the gift or gifts He gave us to build His kingdom here on earth.
There is not one of God’s children who is more important than another. He loves each one of us with His unconditional love. We all have a sinful nature and we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
God does not single out some as sinners and some as righteous. The word “all” is inclusive and means no one is left out. We are justified by grace and we have been redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus.
Moses spoke to the Israelites told them what God expects of them. He said they are to: “…fear the LORD you God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands…” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
These words apply to us today just as much as they applied to the Israelites centuries ago. God expects the same of us as He expected of Israelites. At times people say they try to please God, but it seems too difficult.
After a period of time, people revert to the ways of the world and start to follow rules and regulations set up by man. People will never find real peace if they do not follow God’s commands.
Moses went on to say, “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes” (Deuteronomy 10:17).
Since God is the god of all gods and has such mighty power, He cannot be bribed by anyone. There are people in the world today who worship other gods.
Some people place money before God. Money is the most important item to them and they put all their energy and strength into acquiring more and more of it.
Other people are focused on climbing the corporate ladder to what they think leads to success and wealth. Attending all the meetings and social functions dictated by corporate management gives people a false sense of security for their destiny. People fail to realize that putting God first in their life and letting Him direct their steps is the key to their happiness and peace of mind.
Sooner or later each one of us will face the Master and we will have to answer for all that we have done. We cannot work our way into heaven. In other words, God will not look at all the time and effort we spent on worldly endeavors, but He will look at our heart to see if it is a repentant heart and a heart that has accepted His Son as our personal Lord and Savior.
People, who consistently seek to do God’s will, can expect to receive glory, honor, and immortality. Those people who leave God out of their life can expect wrath and anger from God. Race, color, or creed will make no difference to God.
The position held in society will not influence God’s judgment. The amount of wealth accumulated will not sway God’s judgment. God does not show favoritism or partiality to anyone.
God is looking for a fully committed life. It is fine to do good deeds in life, but the good deeds will not earn God’s grace. When we do the will of God, He will extend His mercy and grace upon us.
Paul had this message for the Galatians: “As for those who seemed to be important – whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance…” (Galatians 2:6).
We have so many people today who think that they are so important they can take advantage of other people. They intimidate, threaten, or scare other people, thus making these people feel very low and even worthless.
You and I both know people we hate to talk to because of their superior attitude. Their physical appearance gives the impression of importance. Their clothes might cost thousands of dollars and their shoes hundreds of dollars. These people live in an elite neighborhood of large beautiful houses. They drive automobiles that we can’t even afford to look at.
They tend to look down upon us with their eyes, step on us through their actions, and hurt us with their speech. They ask for our thoughts and ideas and before we say anything, their thoughts and ideas have been presented to us. In other words, what we have to say is really of no importance.
These egotistical self-centered people fail to realize they are no more important than us. We were all created by God in His image and we are all his children. God does not favor them any more than He favors us. He will judge them just as He will judge us.
Job 34:19 says, “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.” God will judge according to His standards and He will show no partiality.
Another example of God not showing partiality is recorded by John in John 1:5. When God sent His only Son into the world, He did it for all mankind. Jesus did not come for the benefit of the just the Jews or just the Gentiles.
Furthermore He did not come just for the Catholics, the Protestants, or any other religious group of people, but He came for all because all were born with a sinful nature.
John says, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (1:4-5).
Jesus was and is the light of all mankind and not just a specific group. God created the universe and everything within its boundary. God created mankind in His image. Jesus is the Light and the His light shines upon each one of us.
There is no favoritism or no partiality. His light shines on us to lead us down the straight and narrow path. When we are in the rays of His light we are never in the shadows of the darkness of sin.
We are able to follow in His footsteps and live according to the standards set forth by His Father. In His light we are able to see ourselves as true sinners in need of a Savior who will lead us to our destiny. The grace, mercy and love of God the Father is so great that He was willing to sacrifice His Son for all of our past, present, and future sins.
All people who repent of their sins and ask Jesus to come into their heart and take control of their life will never have to worry about their destiny. They are guaranteed a room in the mansion just over the hilltop and they will live in the presence of their Master. When the plan of salvation is followed God does not show favoritism or partiality.
Most of us have been in the workplace sometime during our life time. You might have noticed at various times that some people were favored by their boss or manager. Maybe a job or position opened that you were well-qualified to handle. You applied for that position only to find out that another person with less qualification and fewer years of experience was chosen for the position. How did you feel and what did you think?
Perhaps you could see the writing on the wall and well-understood what had taken place. Maybe this upset you and you decided to seek employment elsewhere or maybe you just felt that this was not what God had in mind for you. Maybe the still small voice in your heart told you that when one door closes another door opens. Perhaps you went out on the limb of your faith and believed God had something bigger and better in mind for you.
I am sure you have heard or read about some company executive who decided to leave and accept a position with another company and in the process takes with him some of the people who were his friends. These friends were placed in positions at the new company, but in the process other people in that company lost their positions.
This happens quite a bit in the world today. People who work for politicians running for office are often compensated with positions within the framework of the politician’s office. There may be other people who are qualified for these positions, but due to favoritism and partiality, they never get the opportunity to be hired.
This same thing happens in churches today. Some pastors will pick their friends to serve on various church boards and leave out those who are qualified, but perhaps do not see eye to eye with the pastor. In my opinion, this is not what Christianity is all about. This is not only unfair, but it is not what Jesus would do.
Malachi talks about the priests who acted in a similar fashion. The priests did not seem to being doing what God wanted them to do. The priests were from the tribe of Levites who were God’s ministers in the temple and in the tabernacle.
Levi was the ancestor of the Levites and was one who turned many people from sin. Levi walked with God and God gave Levi laws which the Levites were to follow.
Malachi related these words of God to the priests: “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction – because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty (Malachi 2:7-9).
Malachi was very upset with the priests because they appeared not to know God’s will and because they did not know God’s will, they were leading the people down the wrong path of life. The priests were looked to for help and guidance, but on the other hand, they did not want to correct the people when they were doing something wrong because they would then lose support of the people.
This very thing happens in some churches today. The pastor might know something that some people are doing is wrong, but the people are good church supporters, financially and friendship wise that they are not confronted and corrected. There appears to be a double set of standards or in other words there is favoritism and partiality.
This should not happen in churches or in any worldly business. This is not God’s way and He does not approve of it. In fact, Malachi told the priests exactly what God revealed to him.
God’s words to the priests as relayed by Malachi are: “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law” (Malachi 2:9).
Conclusion:
God does not approve of favoritism or partiality. As Christians, we are not to exhibit favoritism or we are not to show partiality in anything or at any time.
James said, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts” (James 2:1-4).
All of us have seen things of this nature happen in real life. For some reason, man seems to be impressed with someone who externally looks really good as compared to someone who looks rather shabby.
The person who looks really sharp could really be very evil on the inside while the shabby looking person could be one of God’s angels checking us out. God could be testing us. This is just a thought, but nevertheless possible.
The bottom line is that favoritism and showing partiality is sinful. God’s Word says, “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (James 2:9).
We know how we want people to treat us and we need to treat other people in the same manner. We should not ignore the rich or the poor and we must not favor the rich or the poor, but we must love them and treat them equally.
We do not all look the same. We do not all have the same gifts and talents. We are not all rich. We are not all poor. We do not have the same material possessions. We do not all go to the same church. We do not all have the same education. We do not all have the same thoughts. We do not all have the same skin color.
We differ in many ways, but there is one way we are the same: We are all God’s children made in His image and He shows no favoritism or partiality.
Amen.
