My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. James 2:1 (NIV)
Want to know what will cause morale problems in any military organization? Favoritism. Plain and simple, this happens when leaders show special treatment for a select few.
Here are a few examples. A commander lets one warrior escape punishment for wrongdoing while the next one who commits the same offense gets nailed. Similar situations occur regarding awards or selection for a position within the unit.
Admittedly, objectivity can prove challenging. Many factors that can sway a person toward favoritism can enter the picture to include a warrior’s personality or the leader’s preferences regarding what makes a good subordinate.
What to do? Three suggestions come to mind:
- Make every effort to get the facts- all of them. Don’t decide until you’ve done this.
- Consult with trusted leaders in the organization, especially any who may already be familiar with the situation.
- Pray to the Lord for wisdom. Be sure to ask God if you have any prejudices or blind spots which might lead you to show partiality.
The content of this Devotional comes from “Daily Strength for the Battle (You, God’s Word, 5 Minutes): Volume 6 Developing the Leader in You” (2020) and is copyrighted by Scott and Judy McChrystal. Used with permission.
