Partiality

Have you see a business faltering although financially business has been very good? What about a ministry coming apart and people parting from it and wondered why? How about a family who is torn apart and not speaking to each other? What I am about to write about here is not necessarily the root cause of these things happening but I have noticed that in a lot instances that I have seen it has been a major element of it.

While doing my regular reading I am also reading a chapter out of Proverbs every day and yesterday while in Proverbs 24 I had a section of it stick out to me and saw some of the things being said happening around me in my life. Verse 23 starts with "Here are some sayings of the wise" which instantly sets us up to realize that we are going to hear something good. It goes on to say "it is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment." In some translations the word "partiality" is used. Initially when I read this I was using it in the context of a court situation where an individual is being accused of something and the final verdict that was passed was based on partiality but the more and more I meditated on those words I realized that it was much more. What about those moments where as a leader you have the opportunity to give a promotion or a raise and you decide to give it to someone else because you simply "liked them better" even though it was more fitting to give it to someone else? This verse is definitely applicable to this situation as well. What about a situation where a person does something wrong and you "let it slide" because you really like them? Well as you read on in chapter 24 it says that this action will cause the people to curse that leader and ultimately that nations will denounce that leader. So in time this person will eventually no longer even be noted as a leader. If we decide as leaders to deal with people rightly and without partiality verse 25 says that things will go well for us and rich blessings will be showered upon us. Verse 26 tells us when we approach things with this integrity and speak with honesty that it will be like a "friendly kiss" or some translations say a "warm hug" ultimately letting us know that it is going to be a very pleasant and loving thing.

I love how The Message Bible closes out this section of reading in verse 28 by saying, "Don't talk about your neighbors behind their backs—no slander or gossip, please." I have seen many times where leaders will try to influence the thought of others to promote themselves and their cause by "poisoning the pot". They will "give warnings" about individuals to make sure that the others that come in contact with that person will have a precept of whatever that individual might say lacks credibility so I can't take anything they say seriously or even worse the people end up avoiding contact with that individual whatsoever. Well like it or not that leader is in violation of this verse by talking about that person behind their back an ultimately gossiping.

I do have to say that most of the demise and faltering of businesses, ministries and families that I have seen have had a strong element of partiality in one way shape or form. It creates that element of division of strife that James 3:16 talks about and allows every evil work of the devil to come in. Let's take a moment to evaluate ourselves and the situations that we are in and stack it up against the word. Are we trying to influence others? Are we gossiping? Are we showing partiality? Is someone trying to influence me? Is this person showing partiality and gossiping for their own gain? Let's pull ourselves out from those situations and walk in full integrity that is like that "friendly kiss" or "warm hug". What a pleasant place to be!

DD