December 18 2017 – Click here to listen
There are many accounts in the Bible of seemingly unfair acts by God. I’ve concluded that fairness as mankind sees it, is far-removed from the way God sees it. Remember the story of the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance on prostitutes and living the good life? He was welcomed home by his father and given a party while his other faithful son who had faithfully stayed home and worked and followed the rules bitterly complained to his father that he never held a party for him.
Most of these stories setup the explanation of grace. God is merciful, compassionate, and kind and His sense of fairness is predicated in giving people what they do not deserve because of His love. In Matthew 20 Jesus gave us a parable of an owner of an estate that hired people all day long; some early in the morning and some very late in the day. At the end of the day he paid them all the exact same wage. Do you think the local union would file a grievance and discrimination lawsuit over that one?
There were those who complained bitterly that they had worked from early in the morning throughout the day in the scorching sun and, yet they were paid the same wage as those who showed up right before quitting time and worked just one hour. In verse 12 Jesus responded: “Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for $20? 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?’
So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
Does that payment system sound fair to you? If not, then you and Jesus don’t think the same.
This is the nature of envy. When we are displeased at the good of others, it is displeasing to God. I don’t believe it is ever worse than seeing someone most folks absolutely revile, perhaps someone like Harvey Weinstein, come to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and receive the full benefits of being a Christian.
Wow!
I can see the feminist marches organizing against God now. UNFAIR!
I’ve had people get up and leave church services where I’ve spoken because they disliked that fact that I did so many bad things in my youth, even though I turned away from that life and followed Jesus for nearly five decades now. These folks cannot forgive, but to God it wouldn’t have mattered if I’d turned my life around ten minutes prior. Remember the thief on the cross? That incident gave me hope. If that guy could receive the forgiveness of Christ for his sins, why not me?
Let us never envy or begrudge, but rejoice and praise God for his mercy to others as well as to ourselves. Sometimes it gets forgotten that ALL of us were lost and deserving of separation from God for eternity, before Christ paid the price for our sins and we became His servants.
So, if Harvey Weinstein genuinely came to know the Lord today, could you rejoice?
Luke 15:10
“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”