PODCAST
The Favorite One
February 1st, 2011
Romans 2:1-16
Can a parent have a favorite child? Carole is the mother of four girls. She has been accused on occasion of showing favoritism. Usually, the one making the accusation is being disciplined for something left undone while her sisters get to play.
Scripture shows that Abel was favored over Cain; Isaac was favored over Ishmael; and Jacob favored Rebecca over Leah, and Joseph above his brothers, setting them against him. Yet, Paul says, “God does not show favoritism” (Rom. 2:11). Do we believe this? Does it seem that some appear more favored by God than others?
Life has brought them pain, poverty, and suffering. Looking to the favored son Joseph, we can see that those who are favored by God are not exempt from pain.
Paul assures all of us that when it comes to God’s final judgment, there will be no favorites. “God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done’” (Romans 2:6).
