For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. [Deuteronomy 10:17 (NLT)]

When my father-in-law was a salesman, he would occasionally encounter buyers who wanted special favors, gifts or even kick-backs to purchase his product. Grandpa always refused. He knew that if a buyer would accept his bribe, the untrustworthy man would probably accept his competitors’ bribes as well. Fortunately, God isn’t like those dishonest buyers. What kind of god would we have we could buy or bribe our way into heaven? What kind of god would we have if he only granted forgiveness or salvation to the highest bidder?

My uncle used to call me his “favorite youngest niece.” I always felt so special, being his favorite, even when I realized that I was his only “youngest” niece. My sister, of course, was his favorite “eldest niece!” He was an impartial, yet loving, man. God, like my uncle, is loving and fair and everyone is His favorite, as well. There are no “teacher’s pets” in His classroom! What kind of god would we have if he had favorites: those who were prettier, smarter, funnier, or more talented? What kind of god would he be if he allowed his favorites to adhere to different guidelines or push their way to the front of the line?

Thankfully, our God can’t be bought. After all, what could we possibly give Him that isn’t His already? Fortunately, our God doesn’t play favorites either. He disciplines and forgives, blesses and loves each of us each as if we were His favorite and only child.

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. [Saint Augustine]

Remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites. [Ephesians 6:9b (NLT)]

Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites. [Colossians 3:25 (NLT)]