Ever Wonder Why? Sample

Ever Wonder Why God Doesn’t Seem Fair?  

Yesterday, we talked about how we may not understand why God does what He does, but we can trust in who God says He is. But what about when God doesn’t seem fair? 

For example, how is it fair that people have vastly different opportunities depending on their financial status, their family situation, and where they grew up? In all of our lives, there’s at least a few situations where we could ask—how is this fair? How could God let this happen? 

It’s a fair question to ask, but here’s something else to remember: God isn’t fair. He’s just, but He’s not fair. 

If God were fair, it would be horrible news for us. Because God is holy and perfect in every way, He can’t be associated with sin. And as Romans 3:23 tells us, all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. 

So if God were fair, there would be no way for sinful humans to have a relationship with Him. But God is just, not fair, so He sent us Jesus. And when we accept Jesus, our debt is paid, our sins are forgiven, and we can have a relationship with God. 

God’s unfairness is foundational to the good news—Jesus making a way where we had no way. 

Additionally, God tends to flip our perspective of “fairness” upside down. Just look at a parable Jesus tells in Matthew 20. Jesus describes a landowner who recruits workers for his field, promising them a certain wage. 

The landowner recruited workers at different times, so some of the workers completed a full day’s work, whereas others began working much later in the day. When it was time for them to collect their pay, those who had been working longer expected more money. 

Put yourself in that position for a second. That would seem fair, right? Imagine you’ve been hard at work in the field all day, and you’re next to someone who has worked only about an hour or so. You both walk up to get paid, and the owner hands you both the same amount. 

Immediately, you might think, “That’s not fair!” And this is how the owner replied in Jesus’ parable: 

“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’” Matthew 20:13-15 NLT

God’s grace doesn’t match our definition of fairness. We tend to want to keep score and to earn our way forward. But the Kingdom of God operates differently.

God’s justice required Jesus, and His grace requires unfairness. So instead of allowing unfairness to fuel our frustration, let’s allow it to fuel our faith. Like the landowner, let’s be generous in extending forgiveness and mercy to those around us just as Jesus so generously does with us. 

And if you’re in a season where life feels unfair, remember that God hasn’t forgotten you. He is present in your pain, and He can bring purpose to your pain. Jesus promised that we will have trouble in this life because we live in a fallen, unfair world. But because God is just, He will one day make all wrongs right, and that’s a truth we can hold on to. 

Pray: God, thank You that You are just but not fair. Your grace is more than I could ever earn or deserve, and I praise You for that. When I’m tempted to keep score and focus on unfairness, remind me of Your faithfulness instead. Help me be generous and kind to others, treating them the way I’d like to be treated instead of the way they might deserve to be treated. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Challenge: Because God is just, He calls us to seek justice. Think about areas of unfairness in your community. How might God be calling you to bring justice to those areas?