The Awful Truth of Favoritism

Jacob was his mother’s favorite son, so he set up the same system with Joseph, his firstborn son with Rachel. The favoritism Jacob felt is stated in Genesis 37:3: “Now Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons and made him a beautiful ornate coat.” Jacob’s prejudice caused hatred and resentment to intensify between Joseph and his brothers. Hatred and resentment nourished by envy give rise to strife and alienation. 

Try to imagine parents today giving their youngest son or daughter an expensive sports car after passing down used family sedans to their older children. This favorite son or daughter is given credit cards while the older children work to pay for gas, insurance and repairs. 

Displaying favoritism hurts everyone. The favorite child often suffers from being indulged. If this child has a conscience, guilt will be an issue because he or she knows it isn't right. Parents have the responsibility to love their children with impartiality. God is impartial with us, so parents are summoned to follow his example.

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Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction.

~EPHESIANS 6:4 Good News Bible

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

~JAMES 2:8-9 New International Version