NO DISCRIMINATION May 27, 2020

Today’s devotional was on the book of James, chapter 2.  It started with the apostle’s admonition that GOD’s people should not discriminate between persons, and ends with a timeless reminder that faith is shown by the works we do.

Every day since the dawn of civilization, it cannot be argued that discrimination is a basic human trait.  It allowed early and modern man to distinguish between what makes him survive and what is harmful; between people, things and situations that will be beneficial to him versus those that might not be.  However, the believer is told to go against the grain and do otherwise.

Most people who feel that others have the better end of anything would argue that they are discriminated against, and in many cases they are right, for discrimination happens in any form—higher school grades for those who are outwardly friendly with the teacher, career favours for those who flatter the bosses, better accommodations for the lighter-skinned, and higher pay beyond the glass ceiling for the masculine gender—to name a few.  In these cases and more, one might wonder, so what if we do not belong to those who are so favoured?  Will that be enough to destroy our self-esteem, cloud our thinking, be bitter and vocal about our protests?

I realize however, that true to the apostle’s words, when people discriminate, it really doesn’t bring any value or it really wouldn’t be any cause to feel slighted and resentful, for every person’s efforts will ultimately bear fruit in the works that they do.  What I am saying is, where the apostle uses the word FAITH, I expand it to use the word CONVICTION.  A person who claims to be a child of GOD will be proven by their works and not by their smooth talk, and one of the glaring proofs is by the act of discrimination—simply, if one discriminates between persons, that person is a false believer, while one who understands, supports and empathizes with others regardless of their backgrounds and personal characteristics is true to his faith.

I admit even while I was still a student, and all through my working life, I have witnessed many others getting more favours, and advancing faster not entirely because they are smarter or that they work harder, but because they are good at sucking up.  The only consolation I get is that by GOD’s grace, I get to be where I want to be because even if I am a frank and feisty straight-talker, I and my family work hard enough for it, retain and share the things I learned more, play fair and sleep every night with a clear conscience.

This pandemic taught us that disease does not discriminate, but commerce and economy does—the haves are secure being locked down with their stash of wealth, availability and ease of communications, and easy means of transport; while the other side are overwhelmed with worries with the loss of jobs, how to get enough food to eat, where to get the funds when sick, and now that many are back to work in the GCQ areas—how to get to work when public transportation is severely limited.  Some concerned parties have even raised their concerns that when classes resume and the guidelines on the new normal are implemented, the greater majority of children from middle income and poor families will be left behind in the flexible learning schemes, due to the unavailability of computers and poor or no internet connections in their homes, or even if televisions and text messages are used—less availability of power and poor telecommunication signals.  Many parents are worrying that in the next few months, their children will get lesser and lesser of the shorter end of the stick, and be deprived of a good education.

The coming days, months and years indeed will be the crucible which tests our faith.  In this regard, may parents and guardians help instill in their children faith, hope, courage, strength and fortitude, that even if everything in life seems to go against them in obtaining a good education, not to give up and do all they can to study, to learn, to persevere until they reach a better future.  May workers not give up on their mission to earn a living to support their loved ones and to reach their dreams.  May all of us, even if the pandemic deals us a strong uppercut, to rise up and not let the enemy win by a knockout.

For after all, even if the forces of this world discriminate and conspire against us (which it did to our Lord and Saviour 2,000 years ago), the fact that the faith He sowed in us is still here shows that if we don’t give up, we will surely be victorious.