What is wrong with having a favorite child?

Genesis 37:3Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.

Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph was obvious by his actions. Although we can easily say that we should love everyone equally, especially those in our own families, some personalities connect more naturally, and some children are more easily loveable. Parents must learn to minimize the effects of unavoidable favoritism by recognizing their personal biases and making an effort to treat each individual in the same loving manner. The human family is supposed to be a model of God’s family. God the father and we, as believers, his children, should be a picture of unconditional love. God does not play favorites (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; 1 Peter 1:17), and neither should we.