Does God Show Favouritism? Why Are Some People Rich and Others Poor?

Praise God!

 

I attempt to share my thoughts in response to questions from a believer. Below are the questions.

“Good evening family,

I please want to know whether:

1. God has favourites Or love some more than others,

- if yes, why?

-if no, why?

2. Why are some more successful and wealthy than others.

Responses with biblical evidence will highly be appreciated.”

Kindly find my answer below…

The first question has a direct link to the subject of Predestination or divine Election/Selection of some people for salvation (Another time if the Lord permits we can look at the subject of Predestination).

From time immemorial there exist an ‘unending’ debate within theological circles and among bible students as to whether or not God has already predestined [already decided] the salvation or otherwise of all people.

While both ‘factions’ have seemingly biblical evidences to support their claims, I wish to emphasize –  even as I said it somewhere not long ago –  that one can make the bible say whatever they want it to say.

For instance Genesis 4:8 reads “… Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him”.  Also, in Luke 10:37, Jesus our Lord made a statement and it reads “…Go and do likewise”. Any person with ill-induced intention could maliciously quote these two scriptures to the ‘unlearned people’ and charge them to go and murder others.

This may be an extreme case but the point is one can make the bible say whatever they want it to say.

Romans 9:13 reads “As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."”

Now on whether or not God has favourites, those who believe God has favourites quote scriptures like Malachi 1:2-4, Romans 9:10-13, Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:29, and the like.

Romans 2:11 reads “For God shows no partiality”.

On the other hand, those who believe God does not have favourites also quote scriptures like Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Galatians 2:6, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25 among others. 

In the light of both ‘evidences’ I have always believed in the latter. Thus I believe God does not have favourites except that we are unable to fathom and explain in full terms how God relate with mankind. Below is my reason.

First of all, God is sovereign and therefore no one instructs Him on what to do or not (See 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Isaiah 40:13, Romans 11:34, 1 Cor 2:16, Job 21:22; 36:22-23).

Secondly sin is not found in God so what is considered as sin (including showing of favouritism –James 2:9) is apart from God (see Psalms 92:15, Deut 32:4, Romans 9:14).

Thirdly, as human beings, favouritism or partiality is best understood when it is based on conditions such as social class, relations, wealth, actions etc.

But the favour of God cannot be earned. It cannot be bought and it cannot be worked for. We may explain the favour of God and quote examples, but no one knows how to earn it. It an absolute prerogative of God! After all for ALL have sinned (see Romans 3:23)

Most often than not, when we are talking about God preserving the nation Israel from whom came our Lord Jesus Christ, we easily forget that they were the only nation which received the laws from God. They were restricted in several things because of their relationship with God and they were punished anytime they disobeyed (ref. Deut 28:1-68).

In order not to deviate from the main discourse, let me give you what the bible says about favouritism– for we can look at God as A Covenant Making and Covenant Keeping God at another time when He permits.  

Scriptures are clear that God does not show favouritism and takes no bribe (see Romans 2:11, Colossians 3:25, Deut 10:17, Job 34:19, 1 Peter 1:17)

Also, the Bible admonishes believers not to show favouritism. James 2:1-4 reads “My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory….”. This teaching is also in the Old Testament (ref. Exo 23:3, Deut. 1:17, Lev 19:15). I believe if God has favourites, He will not prohibit us from having same.

Again, the bible calls showing favouritism a sin (see James 2:9). There is no sin in God.

Moreover Paul charged Timothy – and church leaders for that matter not to show favouritism probably because it is a sin (see 1 Tim 5:21).

In summary, we human beings give favour to those of the same tribe, nation, fellowship among other reasons, but God has no one tribe, or belong to no one nation because He made us all and love us all equally.

In John 3:16, God did not give Jesus to some people in this world but He gave Him to the whole world, thus every person in the world.

On the second question, I believe there are principles for prosperity which are natural and it appears these principles work for both believers and non-believers alike. Jesus our Lord once said “… the children of this world are in their generation wiser [shrewd] than the children of light” (Luke 16:8 KJV).

Kindly consider a believer who goes to sleep while it rains and the unbeliever who gathers their barrels to collect water. When the next day comes, the unbeliever will have plenty of water, but the ‘sleeping believer’ will need to go and borrow from their unbelieving neighbour.

My intuition is built from Genesis 8:22 which reads “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

I believe there is always a seedtime and there is always a harvest time. I attribute the riches of Solomon to one huge sacrifice he made to God one night which brought him that divine visitation that changed his fortunes forever (see 1 Kings 3:3-14). 

Solomon gave thousand burnt offering one night (well you and I may not appreciate the value of that but certainly it was not a mean sacrifice), and the Lord visited him and told him “Ask what I shall give you” (verse 5).

But the sad thing is that most of us have been taught of these principles for prosperity but we are unable to put them into practice for whatever reason. Well, knowledge of something has no effect on a person unless they apply it to life.

Someone may say the blessings of the Lord makes one rich and adds no sorrow. This is true and is accepted wholeheartedly, yet the blessings of the Lord do not work in a vacuum. All genuine wealthy people may tell you “It is the blessings of God” but if you are to probe further, they will reveal to you some ‘secret’ sacrifices they have made.

I believer Abraham was promised prosperity after he has ‘sacrificed’ or let go off the gods of his fathers (Genesis 12 following). These things make me think there is no prosperity without sacrifice.

Having said these, let me add that we know in parts and we see in parts (see 1 Cor 13:12) and therefore not all that we know explain everything that exist.

Come to think of this, while the disciples – and the Jews for that matter have been taught (probably from the Old Testament Scriptures) that people are inflicted with certain kind of diseases as a result of their sins or the sins of their relations, Jesus comes to say that it is not always the case (see John 9:1-3). And that sometimes God allows certain diseases on people for His own glory.

While I was in the University of Ghana some years ago, I always thanked God for always walking to lectures or to church meetings from the hall/hostel and not driving in my own car to these gatherings.

Well, I thought that people’s affluence or riches make them forget about God – though it is debatable.

This was because while I was in African Union Hall (Pentagon), some of us were committed to godly stuff, but these guys were also flashing around with their cars, smoking, and doing of manners things.

So I reasoned that if I were as rich as them, I probably would have forgotten church and God, and probably would be part of them. So I was always thankful to God for my life and what I had at that time.

So perhaps someone may observe all these prosperity principles but God who knows the end from the beginning (see Isaiah 46:9-10) may disallow the person from becoming so rich in order for Him to keep a good relationship with him or her.

This is consistent with Proverbs 30:7-9 which reads “…lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?...” Otherwise, when you sow, you must reap (see Galatians 6:9, 1 Cor 15:58).

May the Almighty God help us to walk in His purpose even unto prosperity (3 John 1:2)

God bless you!

Sincerely

Richard Adu Poku

#PossessingtheNations

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