“It’s not fair!” If I’ve heard it once I’ve heard it hundreds of times. Kids can utter this phrase so freely. It comes off their lips like the seeds from a dandelion when it’s in fluffy white bloom. However, I don’t think we are so different as adults, we are just better at not uttering it out loud as often. But if I’m honest I think about fairness all the time. At home, in my marriage, at work, in my community, there isn’t any area of life where I don’t have some form of fairness indicator always at work.

There are real injustices in the world. I want to acknowledge that truth. However, all too often the fairness I am referring to has nothing to do with those things. My fairness gauge seems more attuned to petty things: opportunities, money, resources, success, accomplishment, and the list goes on. While none of these are unimportant, having my fairness antennae up all the time not only is it exhausting, but I’m also not sure it’s helpful.

Either God is unfair or we do not understand grace.

Paulo Freire

The reality is when we think about fairness we must ride the wave all the way to its source – God. Anytime we discuss fairness we have to end up with God. And this means asking difficult questions about God’s character and work. This is where I believe Paulo Freire’s article “Beyond Fairness: Understanding God’s Inverted Kingdom” is spectacular. Freire does a great job exploring a familiar parable of Jesus but helping see the true beauty of that parable…and it’s not ultimately about God being fair.

READ THE ARTICLE

How about you? How do you handle the topic of fairness? Is it vitally important to life for you? Do you find yourself doubting or questioning God because you don’t see life as “fair”? How did Paulo’s article challenge your thinking? I’d always love to hear from my readers. Leave me a comment and as always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day.

Until Next Time…

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