God Is Not Fair

Why does it seem God shows empathy towards so many contemptible people while allowing the decent individual to suffer?  The concept of a child suffering a devastating illness is repugnant to us and yet God allows it.  Where is God when a decent, honorable and hard working person is suddenly struck with a terminal illness?  Why does it seem God is unfair and seemingly indifferent to our daily ordeals?

The old prophet Habakkuk openly questioned God’s fairness when the Caldeans punished the more righteous (Habakkuk 1:12-13); Job suffered beyond what is considered acceptable to most of us with the loss of his family, health and property and yet he remained faithful; the chosen people of Israel remained in bondage for centuries without relief and yet remained hopeful; and, so many committed followers of Christ faced torture and death for their belief and yet remained faithful.  Why are good people punished?

As a Christian, I know that I am not alone when I have at times questioned the "fairness" of my God.  Why would He allow my lovely wife, who was totally committed to Him, to suffer and eventually die from cancer?
How could a loving God allow my wife, who prayed daily to Him and for others, who read the bible and witnessed for Him, to endure such anquish?  Indeed to most who knew her, as close to a "perfect" person as one could be.

The answer is that none of us are perfect and never will be.  Why then would we expect God to reward us with a “perfect” blessing?  I am thankful that God is not fair because if He was truly fair we would all be condemned for “we have all sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23).  According to worldly standards God would be absolutely justified in remaining dispassionate just as a judge would be in presiding over a case before him or her.

God is the Judge of all.  He has sole determination of our value.  God’s ways are mysterious but just.  When workers in the vineyards complained that those who worked only a few hours received the same wage as those who worked all day, Jesus replied: “Many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now with be first then”. Perhaps, we cannot truly understand all that is God’s Will, but as difficult as it may be, we must strive for a “kingdom” perspective, not an earthly one.  Since the beginning, God has sought a relationship with the contemptible as well as the innocent.  Why would He do that?

Jesus, the Son of God, who was blameless in the sight of The Father and committed no evil was tortured and executed along side criminals.  Are we entitled to better treatment than Jesus?  No, we have not earned that entitlement – and never could.  But, through the gift of grace, not “fairness”, God has allowed us, sinful, self-centered and stubborn, to enter into fellowship with Him according to His divine timing.  And not just for some, but for all. And not for just awhile – but for eternity!