Us And Them

• When you hear the phrase “us and them,” who do you picture as “us”?

• What’s the best way to get to know someone who doesn’t seem to have much in common with you?

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”
Leviticus 19:15

How often are you included in or excluded from a group based on who you are? Whether they are boys and girls, rich and poor, popular and unpopular, we all fall into “us and them” categories.

The best way to break down the barriers of “us” and “them” is to get to know “them.” The natural tendency of most people is to surround themselves with people who are like them—from similar economic backgrounds, with similar upbringings, and similar positions in society.

But if we’re serious about learning to judge our neighbors fairly, we need to overrule our natural tendency. We need to expand our circle of friends. If friendship isn’t possible, then we at least need to expand the circle of people we know. We need to break down the barriers that keep us apart. We need to step out of our comfort zones to “see how the other half lives.”

God doesn’t judge us based on a group we may or may not belong to. To him, there’s no “us and them,” no rich and poor, no powerful and weak. There are only individuals to be loved and judged based on who — not what—they are. If we’re serious about pleasing God, we need to see people as God sees them.

PRAYER
Dear God, never let us forget that you are the ultimate Judge. Give us the wisdom to see people as you see them. Amen.