In this world that we live, people value one another based on their status in the society. Profession, achievements, power, authority, finances, family background, nationality, caste, religion, skin color, etc., are considered for honoring and respecting one another. If we see a wealthy person or a famous personality or a person with power and authority, we show them respect and give them importance. When we see someone from a financially weaker background compared to us or someone who is from a lower social status than us, do we respect them and give them importance or do we look down upon them and DESPISE them? Looking down upon people who are weak and who are from poor background is very common today as was in the past. Respecting people is good, but is despising or looking down upon someone correct? Something is being commonly practiced for many years doesn’t mean it is right. Let us open the treasure book and see what it says.
OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK 
Clue:1 How does God value people?
Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands
Job 34:19
God is NOT PARTIAL to anyone, be it kings, princes, rulers, governmental authorities, police, the rich, celebrities or any other influential people in this world. He does not regard people based on their possessions, trade, authority, power or achievements. All people are His creation – whether rulers, authorities, rich, famous, poor or weak – all are His children.
Jesus too was not partial during his time on earth. He was friends with people from all social standing. Tax collectors and sinners were despised by the religious Jews in those days and they wouldn’t associate with such people. But Jesus, even though a Jew, were friends with them and ate with them at their houses . He also made friends with people who were oppressed and under the bondage of sin. He helped them out of sin, healed the sick and the demon possessed. We also see Him in John chapter 4, talking to the Samaritan woman at a time when Jews despised the Samaritans. She even asks Jesus, “you being a Jew, why ask me for a drink”. He did not despise people, rather was very approachable for all who were considered lowly in the society. He helped them and healed them physically & spiritually… Even his disciples were from diverse background – tax collectors, doctors, fishermen, religious leaders, etc. He did not despise anyone based on their social status or trade but in fact saw all of them through the eyes of God.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Here the world means people. God loves all people!!! The plan of salvation – “Jesus dying on the cross for the sin of the world” was not for only a certain community or religion but for the entire humanity irrespective of social status or wealth or power or authority or gender. He died for all humankind, taking their punishment so that people who believe in him can have eternal life.
So we now know that God does not despise anyone but loves everyone!!! He does not value people based on their status or authority or wealth, but is impartial and loves each of us very much.
Clue:2 How does despising affect people? Judges 6
During the time when Judges ruled Israel, Midianites greatly oppressed Israel by destroying their land’s produce and cattle. In fact, Israel became very poor because of this. Now there lived a man named Gideon who was from the Clan of Manasseh. God sent an angel to him who called him “Mighty man of valor” and told him “Go and save Israel from the hand of Midianites and I am with you”. He replied to the angel “My clan is the WEAKEST in Israel and I am the LEAST in my father’s house, how will I save Israel?”. He had a very poor self image. He would have been hearing his whole life that he is the least and this was deep-rooted in his heart. This is the reason why he replied to the angel about him being the least and did not take up the task with courage even though the angel confirmed to him that God is with him. He was not at all confident that he could accomplish what God told him. He asked God for several signs and God gave him all the signs he asked. Then… after getting all these signs from God, Gideon went as God told him. He defeated the Midianites and brought victory for Israel.
When you despise someone, they will lose their self confidence that will eventually result in a very poor self-image. This would hinder them from accomplishing the tasks God has in mind for them and slow them down in their journey to their destiny . So do not despise anyone and do not be a hindrance in the path of people’s destiny but be a blessing to them.
Clue:3 How to treat people?
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:10-14
DO NOT DESPISE PEOPLE. It is not the will of our Father that anyone perishes. He loves everyone of us, even the people who live in sin. He loves humankind so much that He sent His only son Jesus to die on the cross for their sake. God loves all His children and want all of them to be saved. Do not even despise the ones who is living in sin, but rather slowly give them Jesus. Bring them to repentance and introduce them to the plan of salvation. There is much rejoicing in heaven for a sinner who comes to God.
It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Proverbs 18:5
Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
Leviticus19:15
DO NOT BE PARTIAL OR UNJUST TO PEOPLE. We should not show any kind of partiality while dealing with people. We should not honor a rich person or a powerful person more than a poor or a weak person. We should not be partial either to the poor or to the wicked. We should also not be unjust to people, but deal with them in righteousness. Be impartial with people, be righteous and just in all your dealings with them. Look at them as God sees them!!!
Treasures uncovered
God is not partial to anyone and does not value people based on their social status, but loves all people very much that he chose to send his son to redeem them from the power of darkness and sin.
By despising people, you damage their self-image, hinder them from accomplishing God’s plan and slow them down from reaching their God ordained destiny.
Neither despise people nor be partial & unjust to them, rather love each other and look at people as how God sees them.
Prayer:
Father we thank you for enlightening our understanding about how to deal with people. Help us to be impartial and just in our dealings with people and help us to regard everyone equally. Help us not to despise anyone based on their social status. We thank you for loving us unconditionally despite our shortcomings. Love you Jesus, in Jesus Name Amen.
Bible lessons 4 young Christians 