If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. James 2:8
Someone needs to tell James that it’s hardly fair to throw the great commandment into a discourse on showing favoritism. It’s one thing to talk about how wrong it is to favor a rich person over someone who is poor, but when the discussion escalates to the level of loving my neighbor as if he or she were me, things get uncomfortable, at best.
The problem with favoritism isn’t with the other (rich or poor—or otherwise) person. It’s clear that we play favorites in many situations, and the favoritism is usually the same—we favor ourselves. The natural inclination is to favor myself—to cater to my wants and needs—and perhaps, if it’s convenient, bring my neighbor along for the ride.
The truth is, it’s really impossible to love others as much as we love ourselves. That kind of love was demonstrated on the cross by Christ, and His love is evident in our lives only as we live in obedience to Him.
Father, I want to do right and love others without favoritism. I know there’s a long way to go, but I ask You to continue to change me so that I can show Your love to others. Thank you for showing Your love to me.
Grace to you
Jim
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I really think that this concept is even harder for us Americans because we are trained from birth to be selfish and to think about ourselves and our own needs and wants. I also think that it is one of the signs of the times, that lawlessness will abound and the love of many shall grow cold. As I strive to obey the Father in my life, I pray to be more loving to my fellow man, because sometimes I really feel it is lacking in my life. Thanks for posting this.
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