partiality – CadreMen Press

Love With Equality, Not Partiality by Kirk Hunt

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:8-9 NKJV
Read also James 2:1-13

God’s people are commanded to love with equality, not partiality. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That includes the folks who look or sound different. Especially those souls who may never be able to benefit us.

Our modern world has given us many opportunities to demonstrate God’s love. Especially poignant are the refugee crises that impact every continent on Earth (except Antarctica). War, famine, and disaster have uprooted millions who seek only peace, safety, and the absence of hunger.

God’s people should reach out to the nearest souls who need to be shown God’s love. We are His instruments, not free-agents. We should act in His grace and power, and demonstrate His love and mercy.

God does not always send angels. More often, He sends men and women who love God enough to love His children. No matter how they look or sound.

To those in crisis and desperation, the help they receive is a godsend. The hands that receive bless the hands that deliver. In that moment, the difference between supernatural angels and mortal men and women can be hard to discern.

Think: “God loves all of His children equally. I should do the same.”

Pray: “Lord, help me to love all of Your children with equality and compassion.”

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

“Without Partiality Or Hypocrisy” By Kirk Hunt

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

James 3:17 NKJV

The last few months have been disappointing. I know partiality and hypocrisy exists in the world. I suspected even the best of us can have the occasional episode. I did not realize how blatantly, extensively and intensively it exists among those who are supposed to be the wisest among us.

It is directly related to the source of the wisdom. Wisdom from above, God’s wisdom, is pure and consistent with God’s character, and God’s Word. Since God’s wisdom restrains self-serving actions and motivations, men and women often seek other, easier ways to get what they want.

Of course, I expected a lack of Godly wisdom from unbelievers. What I did not expect was the number of God’s people, especially “leadership,” who embraced earthly, ungodly schemes and cheats. Suddenly, the actions and characteristics they decried, and held against, were okay on their side.

Godly men and women are consistent and true. Godly wisdom holds that what is good for you is good for them. What God’s Word rebukes in others, rebukes in us as well. Or would you have stoned the adulterous woman, but not the adulterous man?

God’s people are (still) the light of the world. Using God’s wisdom, you can live without partiality or hypocrisy. God’s people may not be perfect, but it should be obvious we live in and from God’s wisdom.

Think: God’s wisdom is never hypocritical or partial to anyone.

Pray: “Lord, help me to seek Your wisdom, above all else.”