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Download “In the World” for November 29, 2020 here.
PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT LEADS TO DEFEAT
The NBA championship is behind us for this year, but part of the reason one team did not advance in the playoffs was the preferential treatment given to a star player. Los Angeles Clippers’ superstar Kawhi Leonard was reportedly given the authority to take himself out of games whenever he wished, to simply skip games to rest, and to live in another city. The latter frequently made him late for team flights. “When you’re one of the best players in the world, and responsible for so much of the success, the organization is going to take care of you,” wrote one reporter. “Fair or not, that’s just how it works. At a certain point, though, a line can be crossed where that arrangement starts negatively affecting other players, and that’s when things can go bad.”
PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT LEADS TO SIN
James wrote to early Christians who were bending over backward to give preferential treatment to rich people who attended their church gatherings. They also treated the poor badly, making them stand in the back or sit on the floor. Such discrimination—in favor of those who were likely to exploit or defraud others—was a gross misrepresentation of the gospel.
- Why do we tend to give preferential treatment to the rich, beautiful, or famous?
- In what ways does God honor the poor?
- How could you emulate God’s impartiality today?
Additional Resources
These videos and materials are for your personal use. If you show videos in class, be sure to have the necessary rights to do so.
- Music Video, Traditional: “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing!”
- Music Video, Multicultural: “Wake Up, Jesus” from The Porter’s Gate
- Music Video, Contemporary: “Wake Up, Jesus” from The Porter’s Gate
- Clarke’s Commentary on James 2
- Ellicott’s Commentary on James 2
- Guzik’s Commentary on James 2
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