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James 2:1

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
(NIV)
Simple enough, right?

There are some people who would not say that favoritism is a struggle at all. There are others who would say that they struggle with it all of the time. The need here is to be honest with yourself.

Do you show favoritism?

Strong's Concordance defines this word in this way:

he fault of one who when called on to give judgment has respect of the outward circumstances of man and not to their intrinsic merits, and so prefers, as the more worthy, one who is rich, high born, or powerful, to another who does not have these qualities

I would also like to point out that the verse states, "...as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ..." Favoritism and true faith don't go together. The New American Standard puts it this way:

"...do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism."

In the original greek, that idea is definitely there. It is not a simple, don't show favoritism... It is a, BECAUSE you have FAITH... Don't show favoritism. This goes along with so much that James is supporting with his connection of True Faith and Your Life!

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