PODCAST

Embarrassing Favoritism

April 17th, 2023

Psalm 19:7-14

Sometimes it is embarrassing to be the favorite. Years ago I was helping transport senior adults to a week long event at a stadium. The first day a parking attendant in an orange vest waved me forward. I explained what I was doing. She smiled and said, “Follow me.” She led me to the closest parking to the stadium. She removed a traffic cone, waving me into a reserved spot. I shouted, “Thank you,” as she headed back to her post. I saw her speak to my transport partner driving another van. I assumed she would give him the same treatment. She did not.

I later found out that when he pulled his van forward she told him he could offload passengers there, but needed to park elsewhere. Each night that week I was shown to a special parking place and my friend was turned away. To this day I have no idea why I was shown such favor.

When such blatant favoritism enters the life of the church it destroys the witness of those who claim to follow Christ. Particularly when that favoritism is based on worldly measures of status and wealth.

Author: Duane Brush