Preference (what the Bible says)

Posted on October 13, 2015 by My Berean Life

Let’s face it — preference is a buzz word these days. And rightly so, as many of us need reminders that God’s sovereignty exercises divine right over our opinions. I want to turn the prism a bit and offer an additional view of preference. But first, a definition…

: a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing

: an advantage that is given to some people or things and not to others

: something that is liked or wanted more than another thing : something that is preferred

We exercise preference, then, when we like, feel, want and give advantage to one person/thing more than another person/or thing. Yikes — immediately we see the danger in relationships because people are fickle and preferences change. But the Word adds stability to preference.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. ~ Romans 12:9-12 (emphasis added)

In the Kingdom of God (Paul wrote to the church in Rome, by the way), we prefer one another. We stay loyal to each other in this Kingdom. We offer authentic love. We serve together, rejoice in hope together, persevere together, commit ourselves to prayer, help each other meet needs and practice hospitality.

I know God gives us Kingdom specialties that color our view of life and each other, but there is no question here. Saints give preference to one another. Misguided and abused preference give us what we see today — hypocritical love, give-me-the-hook-up mentality, deception in business, little or no loyalty, selfishness, shoddy relationships and designations like “acquaintances” in the Kingdom.

Call me simple…or anything else for that matter. The Word is the lamp and light…and our crazy “revelation” outside of the above verses, when it comes to preference, is error.

If I prefer you, and you prefer you, then WE are out-of-order and in direct disobedience to God’s word.

If I prefer you, and you prefer me, then WE show the Kingdom in the earth. We become attractive to unbelievers because we display another model.

Just a thought today to check your preference. Monitor your loyalty. Encourage the born again selfish in your life with Romans 12:9-12. Preference for one another is Kingdom. It is love in action for each other…and besides, that is how “they” know us — by our genuine love for each other.

Selah, and love to all.

Image: One Anothering