My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
- James 2:1-4
Another way of saying this is principles before personalities, and it is vital. We all have friends and people that we like more than others for whatever reason, and that is OK. But we can not allow our preferences, our prejudices or our fears to effect how we treat others, how we listen or how we share what we've been given. Sometimes that person we look down on or ignore because of their status or our criticism of their spiritual level or progress may say something that is exactly what we need to hear. God can use whoever He wants to to say something we need to hear, even a donkey, so we have no business closing our ears because we don't respect a person. In the same vein, just because someone is respectable or admired in our eyes doesn't mean that everything the say or do is right and correct. We need to test it before we take it in or follow the example. Sometimes we'd be quick to point out something that might help or correct someone that we feel superior to, but are afraid to reach out to or confront the person we see as better than us or further along in their walk with God. But everyone has times when they need encouragement, help or correction. Don't despise the newcomer or think they have nothing to offer, and don't revere the old timer to the extent that we leave them to their struggles alone. Don't let social status be confused with spiritual status, and never assume we know who God can or will use to bless and minister to us.
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