My Favorite Things

In the movie the Sound of Music, the character Maria played by Julie Andrews sings a song titled “My Favorite Things” to the von Trapp children during a frightening thunderstorm.

It’s hard to forget the lyrics that are likely running through your head as you read this blog

… Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. The key to the song is when you have right thinking then “one won’t feel so bad.”

James in his epistle takes that right thinking to a much deeper level. “Not feeling so bad” is not his primary goal. Apparently, some believers at the time favored other believers who were rich and well-dressed. Others who were poor or not well dressed were shunned.

Chapter 2: 1 – 4: My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"—well, doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Favoritism goes against the command to love one another as oneself. We are all God’s creation and should be treated equally regardless of background or economic status.

We all have likes and dislikes. But showing favor and disfavor against believers based upon background and economic status is clearly wrong. In fact, so wrong James classifies the erroneous thinking as evil.

Robert Parlante
June 2015