Favorites

This morning Mikey asked me, “Hey Dad, what is your favorite temperature?” I told him that I hadn’t ever really thought about it; he went on to explain how much he liked it in the 60’s and 70’s. Less than that is too cold, and higher temperatures are just too hot.

Last night at the dinner table the kids were talking about their favorite foods. Our menu was fish, baked sweet potato and fried squash. I was surprised to hear that the sweet potato was the favorite of many around the table; we don’t eat them often, but some of the kids said they could eat them everyday (it was even more popular than French fries). Sam really likes fish, catfish in particularly and could eat it all the time. No one picked squash as a favorite veggie.

I’ve heard a lot about favorites lately; favorite color, favorite March madness team, favorite time of day, favorite American idol. From time to time my kids will send me an email that asks for 50 or so of your favorite things. The list of favorites could go on and on. I guess one of our favorite things to do is choose favorites, to have an unconscious list of what we really like that surfaces in the choices we make (or is it a conscious list).

The unfortunate reality is that sometimes our list of favorites is not just about things. We have our list of favorite people too. James tells us plainly not to show favoritism or unfairly discriminate between people because of their appearance, position, status or wealth.

• [8] Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord's royal command found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." [9] But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law.
  James 2:8-9 (NLT)

Every person you will ever meet, regardless of their skin color, the clothes they wear, the house they live in or car they drive or any other thing you can imagine that separates people, everyone is created in the image of God. We are to love people for who they are and not what they may or may not be able to do for us. We are to love people because God loves people.

I must confess I have been guilty of breaking God’s royal law. I’ve shunned people at times for no good reason other than my preference. I need the reminder that this is sin; I need God’s help to love people unconditionally and without strings attached. How about you? Is there someone you have withheld love from?