I believe that God loves all of his children equally. It is not Him that decides who his "favorites" are; it is us. If you read the story of David, "a man after God's own heart", he (David) comes as close to the character of God as any human being who ever walked the earth. Despite his great power, he was loving, compassionate and forgiving (see his reaction to Saul when he had him at his mercy, or his reaction to the murder of Saul's children). In addition, he pursued a relationship with God that was as close as any man has ever had.
Therefore, I believe that God's favorites are those of us who "seek first the kingdom of God".