My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. (James 2:1)
We like to rank sins, having predetermined that some sins are worse than others. It somehow allows us to rationalize and gives us license to commit a so called "minor" sin; "At least I didn't commit murder!" The sin of partiality or respecting one person over another with evil motives, is one of those sins that Christians often don't even recognize and tend to rationalize away; But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:9)
Why do we sometimes treat some people better than others? Obviously the rich and famous have more to offer us than the poor and obscure among us; The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but those who love the rich are many. (Proverbs 14:20) An attitude of personal favoritism flows out of a selfish heart that is more concerned for his or her own self than for others; Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? (James 2:4)
It is therefore important that we always remember God's royal law, treating both the rich and the poor, the famous and the not so famous as equals before the Lord; If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself, " you are doing well. (James 2:8) Maranatha!