A New View of 'Fair'

Have you ever heard of a 'paradigm shift'?  A paradigm shift is what happens when you are confronted with an idea that challenges a previously held view of something.  But not just that: the new idea that is being presented challenges a very important way of thinking--a way of thinking that is deeply rooted in you.  Genuine paradigm shifts usually make you squirm because they undermine the foundations you have stood on for a long time.

Please take that seriously as we wrestle with the question for today.  It has to do with the idea of 'fairness', and what we think is being fairly treated by God. 

Here is the question:

"I know that God’s blessing isn’t about wealth.  I also know that He gives and takes away, but it seems so not fair for good solid Christians to have financial difficulties for a long time and suffering or getting debts that are not the result of their actions but others.  There are reasons for God doing things like that but I have trouble understanding why He does things—seems so not fair."

 

First of all, I want to make sure that everyone understands just how much it can hurt when we feel abused or mistreated.  I think this feeling is multiplied when we feel this way about God and how He is treating us.  He is supposed to be the one who helps us right?

 

One thing God does for us is to help us when our understanding is out of balance.  There is a story in Matthew 20:1-16 that is a vivid reminder of how our perceptions of what is 'fair' do not line up with God's.  And even though there is a strong spiritual lesson here it is still relevant for us to understand fairness in a material world. 

 

Jesus says that the way God thinks is just like a landowner who hires workers at three different times during the day.  He offers each one a 'contract' that they all agree to, but the workers don't know what the others were getting paid, until the end of the day.  Then it was discovered that those who worked three times longer than the others were getting paid the same wage!  Well, they were pretty upset and told the landowner in no uncertain terms.  What was the landowners response?  "Friend, I am not being unfair to you.  Didn't you agree to work for a denarius?  Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?  Or are you envious because I am generous?"

 

Jesus is saying two things here:  First: the workers got what they agreed to--totally fair.  Second: the owner is the owner and as such has the authority to disperse funds as he pleases.  If the workers would never have found out what the others were paid they would never have felt treated unfairly.  So what is the difference here?

 

Their attitudes!  Their attitudes changed when they compared themselves to the other workers.  Do we do the same?  When we compare ourselves to other people do we wrestle with the same attitudes the workers had?

 

So here is the paradigm shift that needs to happen:  the workers evaluated their treatment based on camparing themselves with each other--and in doing so discovered they were being treated unfairly.  But the landowner's persective is this:  I asked you what you would like and gave it to you.  At the very least, all were compensated.  But then the landowner decided to be generous by giving more to some.  The workers, by being self-focused became envious and could not see the generosity being extended by the landowner to the other workers.

 

So what do we need to take from this?  The question today wrestles with comparing oneself with other Christians who have more material goods.  There is hurt involved and it seems very unfair.  But one should be very careful not to blame God (the landowner in this case) because is there not provision being made? 

 

Everything in me wants to side with the attitudes of the workers who felt shortchanged.  But God is pushing us to have a different mindset:  He is wanting us to get our eyes off ourselves and focus on Him--and He is generous!  He provides and He is generous.

 

God wants to work on our attitudes in order to make us holy as He is holy.  If we are too focussed on ourselves we will be unable to see God the way He really is.  What if we were able to say 'thank you' for what God provides, be content in knowing that He is a loving Father who will provide for our needs if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and His kingdom.  I believe that He wants to give generously to all--but He wants to shape our hearts first.

 

To the one who wrote this question:  I know you are hurting and questioning God right now.  Your circumstances are not easy.  But God is wanting you to have your heart turned toward Him so you can be set free!  Free from comparing, free from anxiety and to trust Him and see Him in a way that reflects who He really is.

 

He loves you enough to help you through this process.

 

Yes, paradigm shifts are most uncomfortable, they even feel 'unfair' but God knows what is best for us and thankfully gently teaches us what we need for freedom.

 

I hope we can all hear God saying to us what is good and leave fair in His hands.

 

BT