When Wealth Determines Respect, Character is Compromised
As children of God, we are called to reflect the character of Christ in everything we do — including how we treat others. Yet, in today’s world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of respecting people based on their financial success, their bank balances, or their social status. But if that’s the measure of our respect, then our character is deeply flawed. Why Character Is More Important Than Wealth The Bible is clear: God looks beyond the outward appearance and status of a person. He looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). This means that no amount of wealth or success should determine how we value and treat others. Respecting someone solely because of their money or achievements is a form of favoritism — and favoritism is sinful (James 2:1-4). When we show partiality, we are acting contrary to the very nature of God’s kingdom, where the last are first and the humble are exalted. We become “judges with evil thoughts” by discriminating based on external factors rather than recogni...