Sometimes when we’re sad or suffering, we feel that God isn’t treating us fairly. We see other people who have the things we want: good health, a marriage and family, a successful career, a nice home, gorgeous looks, and the perfect body. We start to feel slighted. We start to feel that God’s being unfair.
To tackle this topic, let’s jump right into the heart of it. Let’s use Jesus’ words from the Parable of the Workers to get a glimpse of God’s idea of “fairness”.
Matthew 20: 1-16 WEB says:
“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius (a typical daily wage) a day, he sent them into his vineyard. He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’
“They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
“He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
“When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’
“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
This parable used to make me want to scream! The injustice of it all! But I’ve since come to understand the error in my immature mind and now I understand the sheer beauty in the message.
So, let’s break it down so you can gain a better understanding of God’s ways and how His ways are not only fair, but they’re better than ours!
God’s way is not like our way
Human nature is to compare and feel slighted if we feel we’ve been given “less than”. But God’s nature doesn’t work the same way ours does. In His divinity, He chooses the blessings and mercy we receive in ways that we might not understand. He gives to each of us according to His divine insight, so it will be different for each of us. If we perceive that we’ve been slighted while someone else receives blessings, our challenge is not to focus on what we perceive to be “fair” but instead focus on the gifts we have received – which are certainly many. Trust that God knows what’s best for you and focus your effort on drawing closer to Him.
Fair doesn’t mean equal
If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard more than a few arguments over “fairness”. How your children argue among themselves and with you about fairness are how we might sound to God at times.
But as a parent, we understand that fairness doesn’t mean the same thing as equal. We don’t treat all of our children the same way. We give according to many factors and it doesn’t mean that you’re slighting one child when you give something to the other. You know their turn will come. You know you love them just as much and you have something different in store for them.
God may not give equally but it doesn’t mean it’s not fair
In the same way, God doesn’t give equally, but it doesn’t mean He’s not fair.
In Matthew 26:64 He describes a glimpse into Heaven. He says that He will be sitting at the right hand of God.
God’s Kingdom, like any kingdom, has order and structure. In the heavenly kingdom, Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father. We don’t all get to sit next to God. In a similar way, in Matthew 19:29, Jesus describes that His apostles will have special places of honor on thrones. None of those thrones are reserved for you or me, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fair because it’s not equal.
In God’s eternal wisdom, everything is not given equally or according to our effort, but it doesn’t mean it’s not fair. When we stop defining fair as being equal, we can more fully understand and recognize that what matters the most isn’t what blessings other people get, it’s drawing closer to God to enjoy the greatest reward possible in this life, which is a true and lasting relationship with a Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally and eternally.
God is Sovereign
God’s the Almighty Creator! When we question Him, we put ourselves on equal footing with Him, which is a huge mistake. He knows what’s best and He is true to His Word. If He makes a promise, you can count on it. If He withholds something you pray for, He has a reason. Trust His will. Accept His decisions. Be thankful for His blessings.
God IS fair!
Psalm 25:8 MSG describes God exactly as being fair and just. We see many examples in the Bible of God’s mercy and compassion. We can trust that our Creator loves us and whatever circumstances come our way that He is at our side to give us the strength and support we need to endure.
If this unearned and undeserved unconditional love to each of us is not the ultimate sign of fair and just Heavenly Father, then I don’t know what is. When you feel the need to ask yourself, Why is God unfair, remind yourself that God’s fairness in His Divine Wisdom just looks different than what you’re expecting or wanting.
Our God is more than fair!
Do you need Devotions for Going Through Hard Times?
Is your struggle weighing you down? Does your journey feel unfair? Are you feeling defeated and weak?
Sometimes we lose sight of Jesus during our hard times. It might feel as if we’ve been abandoned or are being punished.
Take comfort in knowing our God is beside you and He’s waiting for you to grab hold of His hand.
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The Parable of the Workers was the basis for this lesson and if you’d like to dive deeper into this or other parables, you can start with these Parables of Jesus Explained.