It’s Not Fair

This last Sunday my husband preached on a parable from Matthew where Jesus tells of a vineyard owner that hires workers at different points of the day. The first workers, hired earliest in the day, agree to work for a specific amount. The workers hired later in the day for a “fair wage”. At the end of the day, the vineyard owner pays the wages due, starting with the last hired. The last hired are paid a full day’s wage. The first hired are paid the same.

The first hired begin to complain that it isn’t fair and Jesus hits them with the summary of his story: the last shall be first and the first shall be last because we don’t get to decide fairness; He does.

This is a parable written for the Ones. I sometimes feel like life isn’t fair. I work harder. I do more. I live a life that is right and good. It isn’t fair that others get more when they don’t put in half of what I do. It isn’t fair. Bitterness and resentment build. I’m quick to reject for others the same grace I feel emboldened by. Fair is what I determine. It fits my definition. I become self-righteous. It’s unhealthy and it’s ugly. I know it when I feel it; when I think it. And yet, I complain and grumble to a God who sent his son to die for the sins of the world.

Who am I?

Why do I think I know what is fair?

Jesus carried sins to the cross that had nothing to do with him. His life was unfair for our benefit!

It’s when I take a step back that I gain this perspective and my view is shifted. My heart repents. I took my eyes away from the Father to look at everyone else. And when I did that, I lost sight of the blessings He’s poured out right in front of me.

Life isn’t fair. Most of our mothers have said that for our entire childhood and yet even as adults we struggle. But let me say, I am so thankful life isn’t fair. I’m so grateful that we have a God who is gracious when I am not. A God who loves me despite my critical heart. A God who redeems my sinful self. I am grateful that I am blessed with more than is fair or deserved to me.

Friends, when we start saying, “It’s not fair” there is a good chance we are missing all they ways God has been more than fair to us. I do this more than I’d like to admit but I’m working toward keeping my eyes and my heart on the Lord. I’m trying to rewrite the script in my head from “It’s not fair” to “Thank you, Lord for being more than fair to me”. Gratefulness over bitterness. Thankfulness over resentment.

My prayer this morning is that all of us Ones cling to the Father for fair rather than our own hearts.