All throughout my life it has been easy to look at people at then come up with an almost immediate judgment about them and what type of person they are. You look at the clothes they wear and our minds are so brainwashed that we immediately categorize people based on what type of clothes they are wearing, what type of car they drive, where they live, etc. We are simply brainwashed by the ways of the world.
I have gotten better at this in my own life, but I am still so far from perfect. When I used to notice people who were way different than I was, I would say something about it. As I learned that I was judging and that judgment was wrong, I started to hold my tongue. I learned that even when I wouldn't verbally say anything, I was still thinking things that I probably shouldn't have thought. You could say that judging is a sin, along with desire, and desire comes from what you think. Regardless if I was saying something or thinking something, I wasn't loving everyone as a child of God. I could say that I was, but I wasn't all in. I was like half way. I was lukewarm and that is not the type of Christian that I want to be.
Picture this situation. You are at a festival in town and people from all over your city are in fellowship, eating, walking around, etc. Say that there is a concert going on and there is an open seat beside you. We've all been in that situation before, hoping that someone who is outgoing and attractive sits by you. As the seating begins to fill up, you realize that someone is bound to sit beside you right away. You see a homely looking man, dressed in raggedy clothes, and he might smell a little bit, but seems to be super nice. You understand that he is nice, but you don't want him to sit by you. You start looking around for someone who you want to sit by you instead of this homely looking man and you see someone attractive, well-dressed, and someone you would way rather sit by. As the well-dressed person is a couple of rows back, you go out of your way, leave your row, and tell the person you have an extra seat, leaving the homely looking man with nowhere to sit. The attractive, well-dressed person turns out to be arrogant and doesn't want any part of you and never thanks you. While the homely looking man kindly tells you to have a nice day and to enjoy the concert.
Let that settle in. How often in your lives do we show favoritism to someone because of what they are wearing or what they look like. Yes, I understand that as humans, we are attracted to attractive people, but sometimes when you rely on how things are supposed to be, you miss out on so many things that could be.
When I think about a trip I took to Chicago two weeks ago, I think of all the homeless people I saw on the street and how I didn't really say anything to them besides telling them I didn't have money to give them. It breaks my heart. I wish more than anything I would've had a conversation with at least one of those people.
Apart form being homely looking I think of obesity. It's so easy to immediately judge someone who is obese. I guarantee that every single person who is reading this post has seen an obese person at some point in your life and had the thought: "I hope they don't get stuck by me." It's a little less room, but whatever! We are not supposed to show favoritism to anyone. Favoritism is forbidden.
This topic has a special place in my heart since my trip to Toledo last Thursday. Every person that we saw on the street that day was different that I was and was a complete stranger. But as soon as you converse with them, you realize how unique of an individual that person is and you learn a little bit about their story. You have to remember that there are no outsiders to Christ's love. Even when we as Christins proclaim to love our neighbor as ourself, that means everybody. There are no outsiders. God made each and every person different and in his own image. We are all special, all different in our own special ways, and all are blessed even though some might not believe it.
My main point is that when you are really loving your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right. I really don't know about you, but I want to do what is right, I long to do what is right, I long to be obedient to God in every aspect of my life that I can be.
Here is the scripture to go along with what I just said. I am going to conclude with that. I hope that this post encouraged you to not show favoritism, and that hopefully you start to think a little differently, along with the idea that when you love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right.
Favoritism Forbidden
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing the 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? Listen, my dear brothers and sister: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just as one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs judgment. (James 2:1-13)
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