GR8 FAVR' ed

I should preface this post by stating that I in no way mean to be offensive here. I just once again find myself a bit confused by our culture.

As I walked along this morning I saw a church that had set up for a tag sale of some sort. I immediately noticed a brand new Cadillac parked alone on the side of the church building. Don’t quote me but, I believe that the church was a bank when I was a kid. This is of course not pertinent to the tale here but, I did just think of it- The shiny black Cadillac had personalized license plates. The plates read: “GR8 FAVR.” I took this to actually mean, “Greatly Favored.” I have heard the term before as a response to a greeting. How are you Miss. Gladys? “Why, I am blessed and greatly (or highly) favored,” she might respond. While I have heard the phrase at least a dozen times or more in my life, I have never asked anyone who uses the term to explain or expand. I have simply assumed that it meant that because of the righteous Christian life you live, you are in receipt of God’s blessings and counted among his favorites. –Much like those other groups believe that they are…

The obvious question might be, says who? Who deems that you are greatly favored? As well, I might assume the answer might have something to do with keeping the Ten Commandments and avoiding those pesky Seven Deadly Sins and such. If we assume for a moment that my interpretations are correct here and I certainly acknowledge that I have not sought theological counsel, how does a new Cadillac fit into the picture? Is the blessing associated with “blessed” to mean material blessings? Am I further to assume that I do not have a Cadillac because I am not blessed or highly favored? Attaching those personalized plates creates the confusion for me. I try to lead a good life; I don’t kill people or lust after the wife of the guy across the street or even engage in gluttonous activities; which is why I don’t keep Oreo’s in the house… Why am I not greatly favored with a fine luxury automobile?

BTW: The pic above is St. Frances; the Patron Saint of Automobiles and Drivers... maybe that's my problem, wrong religion?