Tag: unfair

When Life is Unfair

Old Testament: Jeremiah 13 & 14

Poetry: Proverbs 10 and/or Psalm 10

New Testament: 1 Peter 2

Does life ever seem unfair? Why does it seem like the people who are trying their hardest to do the “right thing” often face the greatest difficulties? Is it worth it to continue on the path you’re following, when it seems like you can never get ahead?

My wife and I had to ask ourselves these questions a couple years ago, as we were faced with the possibility of never having children of our own. We watched multiple individuals who were having child after child and living in very sinful conditions, and yet, we had been going to church faithfully, giving financially to God’s ministries, and trying our hardest to be holy. “Why should they be parents and not us?” Everything seemed unfair and out of order, and we had a very difficult time answering these questions honestly. Our faith and trust in God wavered sometimes, questioning why things are the way that they are.

Some of you may have felt this way too in your own way. “Everyone else seems to be successful except for me: why is God not blessing my efforts?” Thankfully, these questions are not new, but are ancient; we see them asked by the author of Psalm 10. He is calling for God to answer the questions we are asking today, about why the wicked seem to prosper when God’s people are suffering. What is amazing about this Psalm is that God doesn’t answer the author: he comes to his senses on his own, resting in the truth that God is King forever and will eventually take care of His people forever (verse 16-18). Knowing this truth about who our God is leads us out of the darkness of doubt, and into the glory of rest in His promises.

Brothers and sisters, this life was never meant to be “fair”; you will suffer, struggle, and feel like God isn’t listening to you. However, Jesus went through much worse than we can imagine, and God vindicated him by raising him from the dead (1 Peter 2:21-25). We were called to follow his example in suffering for good, but will eventually receive the reward of eternal life when he returns, just like he did. Although there are difficulties now, they cannot compare with the glory that’s to come in God’s Kingdom (Romans 8:18). If you are having a rough time right now, find some peace in knowing that Jesus understands your struggle and God will reward you in the end for your steadfast patience. Don’t give up; things are going to get better.

-Talon Paul

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you struggled with an unfair life and perhaps doubted God’s goodness and power?
  2. When that happens how can we be reminded of God’s promises?
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Don’t Give Up on Them

Matthew 20

for the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus gives a very interesting parable about a landowner who hired some people to work on his land. He hired one man early in the morning, one at 9:00 am, one at 12:00 pm, one at 3:00 pm, and another at 5:00 pm. At the end of the day, all of them received a day’s wage, which they had all agreed to. Understandably, the one who was hired first was upset that he received the same pay as the person who started at 5:00 pm. The landowner simply told him that he agreed to work for that day’s wage and wasn’t being unfair.

 

This parable is talking about people’s salvation. There are some people who have been saved for many, many years; they have dedicated their life to Jesus, served in the Church for years, and made many disciples through their lifetime. Then there are people who come to faith at the very end of their lives, sometimes repenting on their deathbeds. However, in the eyes of God, both those people have the same reward waiting for them: life in the Kingdom of God.

 

There are at least two things we should learn from this parable. The first is that it does not matter when someone comes to salvation; we should rejoice that they came to faith at all! We shouldn’t view them differently than we view someone who has served for years in the church. Everyone who accepts Jesus has received the same salvation, according to Romans 10:9-10. We need to be happy for that individual, not jealous or bitter towards them.

 

The second lesson we learn here is that we should never give up on people. As long as there is still breath in their lungs, we have a shot at blessing them with the gospel. Just because a friend or family member that you know has rejected the gospel right now, doesn’t mean that they will never accept it. There is always an opportunity for their salvation in God’s eyes. Our job is simply to try and plant a seed in their life, and allow God to cause the growth (1 Corinthians 3:5-6). So do not give up on that person you have been working with, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem; you do not know what God could be doing in their hearts.

 

-Talon Paul