Message:
There are many and varied reasons to consider the interests of others ahead of our own. If you are a child of God, the main reason is your belief in an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-seeing God who loves all His creation. Secondly, we must be obedient to His word. The God we serve does not love one child more than another because of gender, age, status, class, culture, or other differences; all who repent and turn from their wicked ways are welcome in His Kingdom. Like the Apostle Peter, after careful consideration, we must conclude and “truly understand that God does not show favoritism” (Acts 10:34). Speak and teach correctly; to show partiality contradicts God’s Word; it is not godly, and it is not the will of God.
It was the will of God that Mary, Mother of Jesus, be highly favored, and no humans on this earth can replicate what she did for humankind. Some people love saying they are highly favored. Some may ask, what about Noah? Was he not highly favored? The Scripture (Gen. 6:8-9) says Noah found grace, not favor. Some may ask, what about Abraham? The Scripture (Gen. 18:3-5) says Abraham was praying for favor, not that God showed favor. What about Joseph? Scripture (Gen. 39:21) says God showed him mercy and gave him favor in the eyes of the prison keeper, which is different (Read the verse carefully). We do not doubt God’s omnipotence. We believe God can show favoritism if He likes, “for he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Rom. 9:15, NIV).
But since “God is not a man, that He would lie” (Num. 23:19), He will not show favoritism. Maybe the people who say they are highly favored are highly favored by people but not by God, “For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11, NIV), and the Scripture has not designated anyone besides Mary as being highly favored. Samuel was in favor with the Lord and the people. Samuel’s deeds put Him in the Lord’s favor, which is different from God's showing favoritism. Scripture says David found favor in God’s sight, which is again different from God's showing favoritism. Christians must be careful with their words, ensuring they do not contradict God’s truth. This revelation reveals itself in the New and Old Testaments, so we can be sure that the God we serve is the same today as yesterday. Scripture in the Old Testament validates Romans 2:11, saying: "God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands” (Job 34:19, CSB). To say that God shows favoritism is to call God a lie and the Bible false doctrine.
God gives His followers free will and an opportunity to be humble and humbly serve one another in love. The isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic showed that we need to spend more time considering the needs of others because we are all connected, even by the air we breathe. Many rose to the occasion with many acts of kindness. A stranger helped a waitress without work pay her rent. When the Staples Center closed, it donated 7,000 pounds of food to the Midnight Mission. The media records similar stories in this crisis; however, God expects His followers to retain this charitable attitude when there is no crisis.
God has given everyone called by His name a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts to serve one another (1 Pet. 4:10). It is a resource for us to use as part of our arsenal to care for others: the widows, the children, the poor, and the needy. The opportunities we have to serve are numerous. It could be leaving bags of food for the homeless, cutting the lawn of an elderly neighbor, practicing civility, or speaking the unadulterated Word of God. It is essential to be consistent in considering others important in God’s plan. Some of us need to take time to rethink our priorities in life and attitude about life. "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5).
So, let us never grow tired of doing good and always remember to share with those in need. Doing what the Lord commands and helping each other is more important than fame, money, and power. Honor one another out of reverence for Christ. Speaking with the counsel of the Apostle Paul, I say this: “Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3, GNT). This verse guides us to God’s instruction to outdo one another in loving and honoring Him, ourselves, and others (Rom. 12:10). Challenge yourself to follow the Lord’s Way and Truth! With our free will and the gifts God has bestowed upon us, we have what we need to do what the Lord says. God’s grace, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be with us always. In Jesus' name, we testify that it is done. We will treat others as we expect to be treated.
