It has been said by many Bible critics that our God is a God who can sometimes be unfair because He plays favourites. Claiming that God’s special favour over Israel all throughout the Old Testament and His conditional grace that abounds only amongst Christians are proof, these people assert that God is an exclusive God who blesses only whom He pleases.
It must be made clear that whether God is a God who shows favouritism or not, it does not make Him less or more God than He truly is and it certainly does not make Him unfair and unjust. If God had favourites, it doesn’t mean that His love would be limited because His love is so immeasurably abundant that even if you got the smallest portion, you’d still be overwhelmed.
But I for one am not to agree with the notion that God is a God who has favourites. God loves each and every one immeasurably and equally. His grace abounds and overflows to everyone and we all have the same access to God’s love and grace- sinner or saint.
Here are three reasons that prove that God is not a God that plays favourites.
God blesses non-believers too
If God played favourites then there would be no rich non-Christians, but we all know that the world abounds with tycoons and millionaires who do not believe nor ascribe to God’s laws. That is because God’s grace has an aspect to it called common grace that allows even those who do not believe in God to experience His grace and blessing.
Matthew 5:45 says, “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” God loves everyone and allows everyone to experience His goodness by blessing them with life, provision and even abundance.
God punishes believers too
The Old Testament is not only highlighted by God’s blessing over Israel, but also His justice over them when they disobeyed His laws. Many people- Christians and non-Christians alike- believe the myth that God only blesses Christians and curses non-believers. That is far from the truth.
God may have destroyed Israel’s enemies, but it was also He who blessed them. God brought up Babylon so that it would teach Israel a lesson for abandoning His decrees. But it must be remembered that God brought justice to Israel, Babylon, Jericho and Ammon because He is a loving God. As much as He loves people, He also loves His laws and must keep them.
God extends His grace to all the world
You’ll be surprised to know this, but there are times that God is unfair actually. Yes, He’s always fair to us, but He is never fair to Himself. The only time God is ever unfair is towards Himself. Why? Because He constantly gives and gives and gives. We can do nothing to return back the favor to God for all He has done for us. If there is anyone who is unfair it’s us, but God still loves us anyway.
John 3:16 is the ultimatum of God’s love: ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The scripture did not say “For God so loved the Christians” or “For God so loved those who obeyed Him,” but it says that God loved the whole world and gave Jesus up for the whole world.
If God had favourites, everyone would be on that list. God’s love abounds immeasurably and infinitely upon all people of any race, background, economic class or educational attainment. God loves everyone the same.