There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all none in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:27-28
Sadly, we live in a highly polarized society. This should come as no surprise as people have always tended to divide other people into groups and assign to each different value. Most often it is based on arbitrary distinctions between the individuals comprising the groups. We divide over race, gender, politics, nationality, financial standing, social standing, educational or career attainment, and any number of other factors. The things in this list have nothing whatsoever to do with the character or intrinsic merits of the people so designated. Nevertheless, we just drudge on with huge gulfs separating us from those with whom we differ. The rich often look down on the poor while the poor often envy the rich. One color hates the other while a third color hates the first two. The political elites seek to lord it over the ones they are appointed to serve. The list could go on indefinitely. As a result, people so often mistreat one another to serve their own interests. What we need is a great equalizer wherein everyone is of equal value with everyone else. If we all viewed one another in this way, surely, we would treat each other better.
The good news is we have just such a great equalizer, the gospel of Christ. On multiple occasions we learn that God makes none of these arbitrary distinctions and valuations. John 3:16 does not read “For God so loved the elite, privileged, wealthy, well dressed, etc. of the world.” It reads, “For God so loved the world…” with no exclusions. In Galatians 3:28, we see some of the most common distinctions of their day evaporate by the power of the gospel. Jews and Gentiles hated one another. Slaves and freedmen had no commonality. Men did not value women the same as they valued themselves. Yet, Paul says all these things fade away in Christ, and this is so because “…Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11).
What is of true value to God is the condition of a person’s heart. Samuel learned this truth when David was chosen to succeed Saul. As 1 Samuel 16:6-7 reads, “So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Specifically, God looks at the output of the heart. When Peter was summoned to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius, he was still battling his Jewish sense of superiority (Acts 10:9-16). When Peter learned Cornelius had received a vision from God to send for him, he said by inspiration, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:34-36). Seeing that a servant is not greater than his Master (Matthew 10:24-25; Luke 6:40; John 13:16; 15:20), how foolish is it to treat our fellow servants with partiality? Such a merciless attitude will bring merciless judgment upon us (Matthew 5:7; 25:31-46; James 2:8-13). May we all see our fellow man as God does, human beings created in His image, no matter their earthly station.