Blinded by ambition, Wounded by favoritism

Pride.  Power.  Position. What is it that drives us and that makes us do the things that we do?  For Joseph's brothers it was jealousy, pride, and hatred that moved them to want to kill him (Gen. 37:3-4).  "When his brothers saw that their father loved him the best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him."  It was this jealousy and envy that plagued the brothers.  Perhaps it was jealousy that was somewhat "justified."  Favoritism, at least overt favoritism and when outwardly displayed, will always lead to discord and pain.  As wrong as it was for the brothers to act out of jealousy, the father was also in the wrong.  As a father, Israel should have known better than to love one child over the others and to make it so obvious, putting not only the other sons in a jealous state, but also putting Joseph in an awkward position.  Joseph himself may also have taken advantage of this favoritism and failed to show humility.

A father who favored one of his sons over the others.  Brothers upset, angry, and jealous at their father and brother.  A son who was favored over his brothers and perhaps may have ran with it.  The motivation behind these three groups of people was one and the same: love.  The father wanted to love his sons, and he did but he loved one more than the rest.  The other brothers wanted to be loved by their father so that they could love others with the same love.  The favored son who felt this love but was unable to receive it with humility.  Even though the motivation for the actions of all three groups of people was love, the consequences and results of that love were not characteristic of love.  In fact what came about that "love" was the opposite - hatred, jealousy, power, and pride.  Love must be received in the appropriate way and with humility.  Love must be received as a gift.  And in return, love must be given disinterestedly, and with the mentality of gratitude, gratitude for having been loved.     

It is love that should drive us to do the things we do.  But this love must be pure, free, and disinterested.  The fruit of favoritism and preferential love is woundedness.  What are you motivated by?  Ask God for the grace to receive His love and to give this love unreservedly.

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