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CHAPTER 9
FINDING FAVOUR
A
t every step of the way, we will need the favour and goodwill of
those around us to propel us forward on the road to success. We
see favour operating in some of our most loved Bible stories:
Joseph finds favour with Pharaoh; Daniel finds favour with
Nebuchadnezzar; Nehemiah finds favour with King Artaxerxes; Esther
finds favour with King Xerxes. The favour that they received was key to
their success.
In the world, people seek favour by ingratiating themselves and
jockeying for position with those they perceive as being able to help
them get “up the ladder.” Often, this involves undermining competitors
and fighting against each other for the favoured position. However, as
we will see, the Bible teaches us to obtain favour in a very different way.
FAVOUR WITH MAN
First, the Bible teaches us that we find favour with those around us by
our own conduct towards them. The following passage best illustrates
this principle: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them
around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will
find favour and good repute in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-
4) (NASB). This passage is telling us that the first way that we find favour
is through how we relate to or treat others.
The word “kindness” used in this passage is also translated as goodness,
loving-kindness or merciful kindness. It means showing kindness in
dealing with others. However, this word comes from a root word that
oddly means “to bow (only the neck in courtesy to an equal)” (see
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible 2616 & 2617). So this is
not the kindness of condescension (the pity that one bestows on
someone who is considered inferior). Nor is it the ingratiation that one
shows to someone who is considered superior. Instead, this is the
kindness that one extends to an equal. So, essentially, we are speaking
of treating others well, with courtesy and kindness, because we
recognize and honour the human dignity of each person, regardless of
their station in life.
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