Playing Favorites
The problem of parents favoring one child over another is as old as the Bible. Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob. When he grew older, Jacob should have remembered what it felt like to be loved less, yet he loved Joseph more than his other sons.
Even today, parents may play favorites. Unfortunately, if we felt unloved or loved less by our parents, we can carry insecurity into our relationships. We become people-pleasers, desperate to earn the approval of others.
Another sad result is that we may strive to earn God’s approval, just as we may have worked to earn our parent’s love. But God’s salvation can never be earned. He freely gives His love and salvation because of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
And all the while, the children in our life watch us more closely than we might realize.
- Do we favor attractive children over plain ones?
- Athletes over the uncoordinated?
- Smart children over those who struggle academically?
Let’s be careful not to treat children in a way that will cause them to doubt the love of their heavenly Father.
But what if you are an adult who was neglected in favor of someone more attractive, more talented, or more athletic? Are you struggling to feel truly accepted by your heavenly Father? Study the promises in His Word and personalize them by inserting your name. Then rest in the assurance that you are, indeed, precious to the Lord.
As someone once said, in God’s eyes, we’re all His favorite!