Favoritism (Dys)functions

Favoritism can be easy to justify. We naturally connect more with certain people, relate more easily to some than others, and over time, those preferences can quietly shape how we treat them. But when preference turns into partiality, the damage runs deep. In Genesis 37, Jacob openly favors Joseph, creating a family dynamic marked by jealousy, resentment, and division. What may have seemed like harmless preference becomes a spark for betrayal and violence. We may not see it as obvious, but we can fall into similar patterns—showing partiality in our families, our workplaces, or even our churches. And when we do, we shape environments where comparison grows, relationships fracture, and people are quietly pushed aside. Jesus calls His followers to a different posture—one of humility, where greatness is found in the last and least. What would it look like to confront our tendency towards favoritism, and instead reflect the kind of love that is not selective or self-serving, but shaped by the grace of Christ?