Playing Favorites

Posted by Jen Overly on Apr 25, 2011 in Daily Bread | 1 comment

I am the mother of twins. Before they were born I remember reading in the parenting books about how best to bond with each baby. They warned that you might have a favorite one and most of the testimonies from the parents of multiples confessed to bonding best with the baby that was most like their spouse. On occasion, I have been accused (by one of the two) of playing favorites in regards to our children, but I think that has more to do with perception than actualities. As a teacher, I can definitely count on one hand the students that I will never forget. I guess they were my favorites, but it is pretty taboo to admit to that.

I will also admit something else to you. This passage confuses me. I have read commentaries, and different versions of the Bible. I have checked out the Greek and looked things up in the dictionary, but slave and master, mean slave and master here, as far as I can tell. It confuses me that Paul chose that metaphor. I read that at this time in Paul’s ministry, approximately 1/3 of the population in Greece and Rome were slaves. It seemed necessary to economic and practical living. But knowing the Bible is relevant to today, I can’t get out of my mind the picture of the child who was sold into sex slavery and her “master.” I have a hard time with this and so I am not going to pretend that I understand it or can even make a relatable story connecting the dots of that part of the verse to real life. I can’t. Not right now. But I do think I understand the gist of what Paul was relaying. He leveled the playing fields. He took away the chance for someone to be elite in the eyes of God. He made slave and master equal. There were/are no favorites.

I think this passage changes the way we treat each other. I think it causes us to humble ourselves and elevate those around us. I think it is another way that Paul reminds us that no matter our standing in this life, we all answer to the God of the universe and he doesn’t play favorites.