Favoritism
An action sought; A sin that destroys
by
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I have no doubt that many who are reading this book have heard the expression, “It isn’t what you know, it’s who you know.” For some, you sit there and shake your head up and down and you totally agree with that statement; this attitude has helped you achieve a personal goal you have set for yourself in the past. For others, that expression alone makes the hair stand on your neck and you feel a sense of sickness in your stomach; you or someone you love has experienced a very hurtful injustice as a result of this manner of thinking. You or they have lost out on something very important, and this statement stirs up some very bitter feelings deep within you.
Others may label this as “politics,” and simply brush it off as how the world works. You might say, “Well, if you are going to get anywhere in this world, you have to play the game of politics.” Or as Bing Crosby says in the movie White Christmas, “Everybody has an angle.” When it boils right down to it, all of these can be labeled as favoritism. Favoritism simply defined is when a person uses status, wealth, special connections, and/or flattering words to achieve preferential treatment. It can be experienced as attitudes, statements, and/or as actions; it can be played out in every arena of life including the workplace, sports, the school systems, families, and yes, even in the church.
My own life has not gone without watching, hearing, and/or experiencing the ramifications of favoritism. Specifically, I have heard, “Well, I’ll just have to remind them of who my daddy is,” “See what you can do for me,” or “Well, their family has money.” These situations have caused me to feel very disheartened and even bitter towards those who have made such statements. Additionally, because they felt it impossible to fight the politics, I have watched family members give up on dreams. I have witnessed close friends give it their all in the workplace, yet be turned down over and over again for promotions and raises because they were not willing to participate in the political game of favoritism.
After mulling these situations over and over in my mind, one day I thought to myself, “Laura, does God’s word speak to the issue of favoritism?” Would He have some words that could help me to deal effectively with these hurtful words and actions and that could allow me to encourage those who feel so helpless and hopeless as a result of favoritism? So in search for answers, I examined various scriptures in the Bible. As a result, I discovered that God is very clear on His view of favoritism. What I discovered and what I feel the Holy Spirit wishes for me to share with others are the purposes of this book.
Enemies may come as a result of my writings, but I strongly feel it is more important that I encourage those who have been deeply wounded by this subtle, yet piercing tool of Satan. I hope and pray that many who have suffered as a result of favoritism will find support and reassurance in the words that I have written.
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About the Book
As a leader, have you ever faced the decision of who you should choose for a position and what criteria you should use to make the selection? Have you ever been pressured to select someone because of his or her status or some other condition not related to the job qualifications? Or, are you a person who has diligently prepared yourself for a position and see yourself as one who would be an asset to a team, yet continue to be denied opportunities to display your talents? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this book is for you. Favoritism: An action sought; A sin that destroys is a book that exposes the sin of biased favoritism. It provides scripture references that reveal God’s perception of favoritism, what it may look like as an action sought and an action extended. More importantly, this book provides encouragement for those who have found themselves to be victims of unfair favoritism and guidance for leaders on how favoritism should be handled in ethical ways that honor God.
About the Author
Laura C. Brown resides in Virginia with her husband, Todd, and her two sons, Hagen and Landon. She has worked in the realms of counseling and education and has been involved in music and children’s ministries. Laura currently fills the role as the Executive Director for a Teen Center in Virginia.