God Playing Favorites
Favoritism
Ephesians 2:8
“It is a gift from God”
I stood there watching 10 8th grade volleyball girls, shifting in their shoes, holding their hands, and trying not to look at me. They had sheepishly asked to talk with me after one of the practices. I was on my way home, weary and swore but happy that the team is pulling together. We are 50% which is better than the 10% last year (they won one game). I quietly leaned on the brick corner a bit humored within my heart. One girl croaked out the first words, slowly talking around the barn. The frustrated others said, “Just tell him”. I did not know if it was good or bad, but whatever it was, I was intrigued.
“Coach, we think that you are favoring Sue (another name to protect the innocent – she wasn’t there) because she is the best player. You spend more time with her than all of us. And we want more time.” I nodded my head and mused, slowly measuring my words. “Well, if you think that I am favoring her, I am sorry. I don’t want to do that and if I am, it will stop.” I did not mention that Sue concentrates more than others concentrate and therefore receives more time than the group in front of me who are a bit futile in the mind and body. It wouldn’t benefit, and they would not comprehend it. They had guts to talk, as they were afraid that I would get mad, ream them out, or disagree. My response had unnerved them. I needed to humble myself in front of them. That was important. I assured them.
But as I walked to my car, I started considering what they had said and how it affected them. I really hate favoritism as most of us do, having felt it and resented it. Favor, an interesting concept and action. I find it in many of the families of the OT and NT. One son or daughter, or wife, or husband is liked more than the others are and the result is always division and anger. But consider it in the light of God. He favored us. It is salvation’s hallmark of divine right. God chose us without any reason, save His glory. It glorifies Him more to give to us what we do not deserve, grace, and keeps from us what we do deserve, condemnation. I am happy that God played favorites with me.
I had chosen the best and brightest to favor (at least according to them). That was unacceptable to them and me.
Consider this. He chose the worst, the lowest, and the most undeserving. That’s we! So when we play favorites, we sinfully play God. Only He has the right to give grace particularly without being indicted. How glad I am that He did and does. Remember, none of us deserves His grace more than any other does and that is what is so beautiful and humbling. His free grace humbles us to the lowest place. Favoritism is God’s, not ours. Ours is to relish in it.
The free gift of eternity is the humbling gift of life. And the more we see it in comparison to us, the more we see the plight of man and the power of God.
“God, thanks for playing favorites with me”.
Ephesians 2:8
“It is a gift from God”
I stood there watching 10 8th grade volleyball girls, shifting in their shoes, holding their hands, and trying not to look at me. They had sheepishly asked to talk with me after one of the practices. I was on my way home, weary and swore but happy that the team is pulling together. We are 50% which is better than the 10% last year (they won one game). I quietly leaned on the brick corner a bit humored within my heart. One girl croaked out the first words, slowly talking around the barn. The frustrated others said, “Just tell him”. I did not know if it was good or bad, but whatever it was, I was intrigued.
“Coach, we think that you are favoring Sue (another name to protect the innocent – she wasn’t there) because she is the best player. You spend more time with her than all of us. And we want more time.” I nodded my head and mused, slowly measuring my words. “Well, if you think that I am favoring her, I am sorry. I don’t want to do that and if I am, it will stop.” I did not mention that Sue concentrates more than others concentrate and therefore receives more time than the group in front of me who are a bit futile in the mind and body. It wouldn’t benefit, and they would not comprehend it. They had guts to talk, as they were afraid that I would get mad, ream them out, or disagree. My response had unnerved them. I needed to humble myself in front of them. That was important. I assured them.
But as I walked to my car, I started considering what they had said and how it affected them. I really hate favoritism as most of us do, having felt it and resented it. Favor, an interesting concept and action. I find it in many of the families of the OT and NT. One son or daughter, or wife, or husband is liked more than the others are and the result is always division and anger. But consider it in the light of God. He favored us. It is salvation’s hallmark of divine right. God chose us without any reason, save His glory. It glorifies Him more to give to us what we do not deserve, grace, and keeps from us what we do deserve, condemnation. I am happy that God played favorites with me.
I had chosen the best and brightest to favor (at least according to them). That was unacceptable to them and me.
Consider this. He chose the worst, the lowest, and the most undeserving. That’s we! So when we play favorites, we sinfully play God. Only He has the right to give grace particularly without being indicted. How glad I am that He did and does. Remember, none of us deserves His grace more than any other does and that is what is so beautiful and humbling. His free grace humbles us to the lowest place. Favoritism is God’s, not ours. Ours is to relish in it.
The free gift of eternity is the humbling gift of life. And the more we see it in comparison to us, the more we see the plight of man and the power of God.
“God, thanks for playing favorites with me”.
posted by ipastorwill at 3:15 PM
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