March 31, 2012 | Leave a comment Today, Saturday March 31, 2012, is the thirty-sixth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” showing favoritism and “put on” loving others as yourself. It feels good to be the favorite. Secretly we may desire to be the favorite, but favoritism can wreck relationships in a family. The most famous example in the Bible of how destructive showing favoritism can be in a family is the relationship of Esau and Jacob. Esau was his father Isaac’s favorite and Jacob was the favorite of his mother Rebekah (Genesis 24;25:19-34;27:1-46). Some of the ramifications of the favoritism shown in this family still exist in the ancient enmities of the Middle East region today. Instead of showing favoritism you and I need to “put off” favoritism and “put on” loving others as ourselves. Loving others as ourselves is the Christian ethic taught throughout the New Testament. Philosophers have discussed the wisdom and elegance of Jesus’ statement which has come to be known as the “Golden Rule.” 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31 (NIV) No one wants to be the one who is left out while our sibling, relative, friend, or co-worker is doted over by whomever is showing favoritism. Since none of us want to be left out, we should not play favorites with others. James explains it this way. 1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:1 – 9 (ESV) James reveals the bottom line problem with showing favoritism. It is not that it disrupts family harmony but that playing favorites is sin. As we prepare to celebrate Easter as the highest of all holy days we need to “put off” all of the sin we find in our life. That includes the sin of showing partiality (i.e. playing favorites). So as you and I prepare for Easter lets “put off” showing favoritism and “put on” loving others as ourselves.