That's Not Fair

A Day at the Baumgartles...

"That’s not fair! Jordyn gets to stay up later than everybody else!"

"That’s not fair! Isaac got two hours on Play Station."
"That’s not fair! Simon ate the last piece of pumpkin pie."
And now, Julia, our three year old, goes around crying, "No Fair!" (We really haven’t got a clue what she’s complaining about. But obviously, she has the disease as well.)

Personally, I don’t think its fair that I have to decide what’s fair all the time. How do I make sure everyone gets equal portions of food? Equal assignments of chores? Equal opportunities to play? It’s a full-time job. It’s a job I’m not good at. And its a job I resent having to do.

My Role As Judge
So how do we decide? What do we do? There are a few Scriptures that stand out. First, The Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31) As a father, it is not necessarily my goal to treat my children "fairly". I want to do better than that. I want to treat my children generously. Oh, how I wish my children understood what they were asking for when they demand to get what they deserve. Micah 6:8 tells us to "...act justly" and "love mercy." Being just means be fair. But being merciful means be better than fair.

My Nature As A Child
The problem with fairness is often NOT about fairness - but about envy. When the judge is gracious to us, we are grateful (hopefully). But when the judge is gracious to others - we are envious. In Matthew 20, Jesus tells a parable about workers who were hired throughout the day. And then, at the end of the day they were paid, beginning with the last ones first. All the workers were paid the same amount - the amount the first group agreed to work for. But for some reason, the owner of this operation insisted on paying the last ones first. Why? It was as if to make a point: The human heart is greedy, envious and selfish. Why couldn’t the first workers rejoice at the owner’s generousity. But, no! Instead they complained about the "fairness" of it all.

Do you remember the story of the prodigal son? (Luke 15) Which is really not about the son at all, but about his older brother - who became angry when his younger, irresponsible brother returned home after squandering his father’s wealth. The father threw a party. "Kill the fatted Calf!" The older brother sulked. "It’s not fair!"

It just seems to be what we do. We complain and grumble and whine about what is and isn’t fair. I wonder if God ever gets tired of playing judge to all of our complaints about not getting our fair share - when he has blessed us so generously. Why can’t we just be grateful? Why can’t we just trust that He has a way of making everything right?

My Role As A Child Of God
I recognize that my sinful nature is greedy, selfish and envious. But, because of the grace of God, I am "...a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) I am (or, at least, I hope I am) being transformed by the renewing of my mind - by studying and applying God’s Word.
God’s Word tells me to "not repay anyone evil for evil" (Romans 12:17). Don’t give people what the deserve. Give them mercy! God’s Word says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice" (Romans 12:15). Don’t be envious when God blesses the people around you. Be thrilled! The Bible tells us that the Lord "...richly blesses all who call on Him." (Romans 10:12) He provides. He rewards. Our hope is in Christ! Not - in what is fair.

Do you trust God? If so, then you know He will make sure you get what you have coming to you. He just may even give you better than you deserve. That’s not fair. That’s God!

Go Bless,

Pete

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding... - Proverbs 3:5