Partiality toward a person creates a multitude of sin for all people involved. The one favored becomes prideful and the ones pushed aside become resentful. Once partiality is shown the damage is done. Trust is gone, not only in that situation but all situations to come.
The one who is overlooked will battle suspicion for a long time. When genuine compliments or promotions are given there is a sense of unworthiness. The feelings of wondering when someone better will take over and being pushed aside again are real. Some people will experience anger and bitterness causing retaliation that hurts even more people. Genesis 37:4 states: But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
There is no way to undo the moments when partiality came as a slap in the face.
To the one who is favored there is a sense of being a step above everyone else. Over a period of time these people can become unapproachable and heartless unless they are getting more compliments and recognition. A spirit of narcissism could easily overtake them.
Many times acts of partiality can creep in when people had no intention of allowing that to happen but the results are the same.
A kind and loving musical director at a local church welcomes a new person and works hard to make him feel at home. Without realizing it, that newcomer gets all the solos, compliments, leadership opportunities, hugs, praise and recognition while others who have been loyal get pushed aside. The ones who are overlooked are equally as talented and have stood the test of time. The results start with the rolling of eyes when compliments come to the new person and over time that newcomer is running over the others. One by one the musicians find other places of services and over time the whole ministry is destroyed.
A doctor is highly recommended by people. He has a reputation of seeing patients on time. He understands the patients and works with them. Slowly he accumulates more patients than he can handle. He adds employees, charges more and has staff who is not so welcoming. He will treat one patient with respect yet another with disrespect while both patients pay his salary. He starts to get negative reviews from some while others brag on him. Again, the ones being pushed aside battle a host of emotions that no drug can heal.
What about school teachers who give extra credit to the secretary’s daughter or football managers who will give choice spots on the team to a failing student because of the student’s size. James 2:9 says but if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
True justice is blind. It sees no earthly status or that one talent is more appealing than another. God sees each person as a valuable part of His family. If even one person is missing His whole picture will be incomplete. That’s how important each person is to God.
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
For God shows no partiality.
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