Favoritism is a Sin

It is a sin to favor one child over another in the family. There are those who use the Scripture to justify this by using the patriarchs examples from God's Word. Some of them showed favoritism toward one child over another, and we see that it caused trouble.

No where in God's Word do we see that God endorsed this form of injustice.

Favoritism causes anger and jealousy, anyone who is indulging in favoritism is promoting the treatment of some of the children better than the other children. The favored child is often haughty and entitled, mocking and demeaning anyone he sees as beneath him. When children are treated as special over the others, the often become abusers themselves.

Some people use favoritism in families to demean one person while elevating others, deliberately to cause hurt to the one who is ignored and mocked.

James 2:8-10 "…8 If you really keep the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 Whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."

Stop the favoritism, see the strengths in every child and help with the weaknesses in each. No child is without weakness, in fact the "golden" child is often treated as though they can do no wrong, they are indulged creating an attitude of superiority in them.

We are never to build up pride in people, we are to encourage when they do right and discipline when they do wrong, every one of them.