Life's not Fair!

Two aid works through Samaritans Purse are now receiving treatment for Ebola at Emory University hospital in Atlanta. They had been helping other victims with the virus. The big island of Hawaii was hit by a 4.2 magnitude earth quake as a tropical storm bears down on the island and Cat. 3 hurricane is forecast to pass the island on the north side both this weekend. The list can go on and on with instances of unfairness found in our world. There would not be enough paper to record the unfairness we see in our lives.

It’s not fair: that you were born in this country, the parents that raised you, the husband you married, the children you bore, the job, the home, the resources, the wife, the schools you attended, the air conditioning at your home, running water, safe food supply, a vehicle to drive etcetera, etcetera, etcetera (to quote the King in The King and I). It’s just not fair when we compare ourselves to the rest of the world. It is NOT FAIR! Why do you and I have so much and complain about so much when…It’s not fair!

I would like for things to be fair! But not if I have to give up anything. Not if I have to sacrifice too much or maybe at all. Fair defined by me. What’s fair when someone attacks you, insults you, hurts you, harms you, ________you is… is one thing. But say we turn the situation around, and ask what’s fair when I attack you, insult you, hurt you, harm you, ________you? That is another. My determination of fair will be different depending on my level of hurt. When we are hurt we are all about justice and truth but when we have hurt we are all about mercy and grace. Isn’t it good God is not like you and me? He is not like one of us! The Psalmist writes of this unfairness.

Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Love and truth are in all you do. Psalm 18:14 New Century Version  

The thing is fair is determined by God not me or you. Consider what would be fair for the way you spoke to a coworker last week or the attitude you have had for a boss or bosses or the unforgiveness of your brother, wife, father, mother, children you have harbored for years? What’s is fair? A song by Reliant K contains a phrase “the beauty of grace it makes life NOT fair.” I own that phrase because grace makes possible what I cannot attain, work for or deserve. Grace makes possible my forgiveness, the blessings of God. Grace is not fair! But, that is how God chooses to define fair. Fairness ended in that Garden of Eden. However, where fair ended Grace began!  

You are right, life’s not fair and aren’t you glad!   

In HIS Service and Yours,

Bro G