Fallout of Favoritism

At 17 years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a robe of many colors for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him...⁵ Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

Favoritism is a terrible thing in life, and its ripples can reach the far shores of our lives. Yet God is a Redeemer of even the most insidious mistakes we make. Whether you were the one not favored, or the one spoiled, redemption from the fallout of this sin is so needed.Just look at the havoc it wreaked in Joseph’s family life, as demonstrated in the Scripture portion above. Reading the whole story of Joseph in the book of Genesis is one of the most fascinating in the Bible. If you can, please read it all.

I once had someone tell me it took them into their 40’s to be free from trying to gain their father’s approval. I can honestly say it took me that long if not a bit longer to get free from that twisted snare. Favoritism can happen at work, in families, at school, in church; anywhere where people gather. Jesus told a parable about favoritism.

⁷ He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: ⁸ “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. ⁹ The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.

¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)

We are never to choose the higher seat in a place where God has placed us. If He places us in the Seat, He has a purpose, but we are never to seek it for ourselves. God tells us in His Word, “¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:18)

God is at work continually changing and growing us everyday, even when we don’t feel it. We must look at each other through the eyes of God alone. We must value ourselves as God values us, no more, no less, nothing else. God has no favorites, it says so in (James 2:1-13).

So let’s follow Christ’s example and show no favoritism in the Body of Christ. Let’s do as the verse below calls us to do in regards to relating to one another.

“Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. ² And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Only God can heal you of the Fallout of Favoritism, whether you were the favored one, or the neglected one; or perhaps you committed the sin of favoritism (See James 2) God can set you free as you lean deeply into Him for transformation. Have a Blessed day.