If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers!

 

If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 

~James 2:9

Have you ever thought about this Bible verse before or about the problems with favoritism? According to James in the Bible it is a sin and one can be convicted by law if we show favorites. I really do understand this, it creates many problems. When parents, teachers, law makers, others show favorites, it causes problems. I even saw some in my family with my oldest and youngest brothers who got most of all from my parents their houses and most of the contents. We have all see or heard about teachers playing favorites. Even elected making laws that favor the rich. Favoritism is a real problem for sure. 

Mike Wittmer on December 23, 2025 on the Our Daily Bread website said, "In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant was stopped for recklessly driving his carriage through Washington DC. One published account says that the officer, an African American named William West, warned Grant, “Your fast driving, sir . . . is endangering the lives of the people who have to cross the street.” Grant apologized, but the next night he was racing carriages again. West stopped Grant’s horses. “I am very sorry, Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty.” West arrested the president. I admire this brave man for doing his duty. So did Grant. He praised West and made sure he kept his job. God also was pleased, for He hates the injustice of favoritism. James wrote, “Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism” (James 2:1). That includes not giving special favors to the rich and powerful, leaving only leftovers for the poor (vv. 2-4). Instead, we’re called to love our neighbor as ourselves (v. 8). If we play favorites, serving our platinum club neighbors rather than the less privileged, we “sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (v. 9). God didn’t play favorites with us. He loved us when we had nothing to offer, when we were “without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). With His help, we can love all people equally.

Why is favoritism such a harmful thing? How might you avoid playing favorites?

I praise You, Father, that no human is above or beneath me." Found at: https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category/no-favoritism

I highly recommend this website, I love their daily devotionals and prayers, I read them each day, they bring so much prayerful reflection to my life. 

I had never heard this story before or this Bible verse, but it sure does make a lot of sense. Favoritism sure does cause a lot of problems. God does not play favorites. He loves us all the same, we all get equal treatment. Today we see a lot of mishaps in government and by corrupt judges, a lot of favoritism and partisan politics in judgement calls, and interference overall. It is problematic as it makes the public lose respect for its elected and judges/decision making today, showing partisan politics by judges.  We all have a mission for Him to complete, some special talent He gave each of us to be used by Him to complete some task. David became a king. Mary became the mother of Jesus. Moses brought us the 10 Commandments. Even modern day folks, look what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. brought for people. Or Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa,  or Albert Einstein. Each person has gifts and talents, qualities to share to make this world a better place. Favoritism creates a lot of problems, it is frowned upon in our societies, well, maybe it is a sin, it puts people on unequal playing ground, which is not fair. Today we see a lot of hate, many with TDS and hating the President, they let their hate interfere with their judgement and takes sides, allow favoritism created partisan politics and many problems, all due to hate for someone, this is not healthy at all, it causes division and it is sin. We need to be like Jesus, to love like Him, we must follow Him, imitate and love like Him a lot, yes, with His help, we can love all people equally and show no favorites!