In 1977, Randy Newman wrote a song called, “Short People.” The lyrics go like this:  

Short people got no reason to live.  

They got little hands, and little eyes, 

And they walk around tellin’ great big lies; 

They got little noses and tiny little teeth; 

They wear platform shoes on their nasty little feet.  

Short people got no reason to live.  

With these lyrics, Newman hoped to highlight the absurdity of partiality and prejudice. We of all people, as Christians, ought to agree – partiality is both foolish and wrong.  

The problem is, even though we know it’s wrong, we often allow ourselves to treat others unfairly or give others unequal respect. Maybe you find yourself less inclined to share the gospel with someone who looks different from you. Maybe you don’t want to befriend someone because they obviously make poor life choices (at least in your opinion). It’s easy to show unfair treatment or give unequal respect; but this is not the way of God’s wisdom. God teaches us that we must give all people equal respect and equitable treatment. 

Partiality is foolish.  

Proverbs 28:21, “To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.” 

Partiality is ineffective. You may think that showing someone special treatment will gain their respect or loyalty, but the truth is that partiality does not build genuine relationships. They may give you your “respect” for a time, but their respect will be bought by someone else for nothing more than a piece of bread. To show undue favoritism does not work, and can even result in people despising you (c.f., Prov. 24:23-26).  

Does this mean that we must treat all people exactly the same? Not necessarily – we instinctively know that a newborn baby is given different treatment than a soldier on the front lines. But we are to give others “equitable” treatment, treating them according to who they are, what kind of position they’re in, and what is objectively just and right. To do otherwise would be foolish.   

Partiality is sin. 

Proverbs 24:23-24, “It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him.” 

To call the wicked person righteous (and vice versa) is to lie against justice. Remember, our God is a just God. Anything that is considered just finds its source in God Himself (Prov. 16:11), and God loves justice (Prov. 21:3). To violate justice by refusing to act impartiality is to violate God’s definition of what is right. Therefore, partiality is sin.  

Proverbs 18:5 says that partiality “overthrows” the righteous, casting him aside along with all that can be considered right. Have we not seen righteousness cast aside in our world today? So many people would rather get their way than what is right.  

Regardless of your political party. particular “stripe” of Christianity, or any other affiliation, your allegiance must not be to any particular human, form of government, or man-made law. Your allegiance is to God and His Word alone. Therefore, we must seek justice in the way we treat others, seeking to treat them equitably.  

The love of God is impartial.  

Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

We are all created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27). As such, we all have innate value in God’s sight and ought to have the same, equal value in each other’s sight. But we often draw lines between race, class, gender, and more to unjustly prefer one group over another. While some groups have distinct roles (such as husband and wife having distinct, yet equal roles), all people are equal.  

The lines we draw people groups are erased on the gospel. It has been said that the ground at the cross is level ground – we are all on the same footing before God. Should we not then treat others the same way God has treated us? We ought to show the very same impartial love and kindness to all people.  

You are called to show all people equal respect and give them equitable treatment, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. This is how God has treated you; this is how God defines justice; therefore, we must do the same. Though it may be easy to show favoritism and partiality, we must refuse it and instead treat all people with the impartial love of God.  

Questions for Discussion:  

1. Read Proverbs 24:23-26. Why is it foolish to show partiality? What does this passage say is the alternative to partiality?  

2. Read Proverbs 16:31, 26:4, and 5:9. How do these verses show us that not everyone receives identical treatment? How do we determine who gets what kind of treatment? 

3. Read Proverbs 16:11, 21:3, and Psalm 89:14. Describe the just nature of God. How does this relate to the issue of partiality?  

4. Read James 2:1-9. What’s the problem with partiality? What is the solution?