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Don't Show Partiality
Don't Show Partiality
One of the problems that has plagued families, churches, schools and politics is the showing of partiality, toward certain persons or groups. One of the ways to destroy teamwork and cooperation is to subjectively judge people rather than objectively judge them on the merits of their abilities.
Parents who treat their children different for no reason run the risk of causing a spirit of hostility which could lead to major family problems. One of the most difficult challenges for a child to overcome is the sting of being treated unfairly by their parents. The mistreatment of children sometimes leaves scars that remain a life time.
The same is true in a church setting, church administrators or leaders who show favoritism run the risk of disrupting church unity and cooperation. It is extremely important to be fair an objective in a church setting to maintain positive church morale.
Favoritism within public schools can also be extremely devastating; students are deeply effected by teachers and administrators who show favoritism. Fairness and objectivity is extremely important in a school setting. A child's self esteem is at risk when teachers and administrators show favoritism.
The self esteem of a child is one of the three major factors which determine academic success. The other factors are environment and heredity. Children who have high self esteem who grow up in poverty tend to overcome the disadvantages in their environment if they have excess to the proper academic resources.
Politics and the court system has also been effected by favoritism, the unfair treatment of one race or group over another has caused major human relations problems down through history. Those who are shown favoritism usually feel superior to those who are negatively impacted by favoritism.
Showing partiality or favoritism is a very dangerous practice. The world is dangerous enough without showing favoritism but it becomes more dangerous when unfair treatment and favoritism becomes a common practice.
Favoritism and unfair treatment has caused a lot of pain and frustration in the lives of innocent people. The principle of respecting the dignity of others is the key to genuine humanity. The world would be a better place to live in, if everyone followed the golden rule of "doing unto others as you would have them to do unto you."
Reverend Micheal J. Darby