"Life is just not fair!"
Have you ever heard these words before? Maybe if you are like me, you've heard them come from your own mouth a time or two. Or maybe you've heard this from your child and had to give him or her the ol' "you're right so get over it" speech (or a variation of it) that I heard from my mom.
I can't explain or really understand why some people have good lots in life while others struggle merely to survive. Why some have the touch that makes most everything turn to gold while still others seem to be born losers. Why was I born in a country at a time where I don't have to struggle for my rights to vote, have a career or the freedom to express myself even if I'm critical of my own government and leaders? I live in a nation where I can worship God freely, in a church and read my Bible without having to look over my shoulder to see if the police are coming to take it away because they hate what I believe God is saying to me.
I've read stories out of China where people in rural areas hide their Bibles because authorities there want to confiscate and burn these illegal books and imprison those who have them! I can't imagine such an existence because I've always had freedom. Likely I've even taken this freedom for granted wrongly believing it's the way most people in the world live.
Then I hear from my friends in Syria who can't legally access certain websites like Facebook, Blogger (this blog!!), YouTube and Amazon because that country wants to control its people or something!
Back to fairness, I was reading this passage in Matthew 20 and wanted to ask to whom you could most relate in these verses and what your thoughts were on this parable that Jesus told concerning what the kingdom of heaven is like.
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius [the usual daily wage for a day laborer] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Did you find yourself identifying with the workers who had been slaving away in the hot sun all day thinking they should have received more than those who had only worked one hour? "It's not fair! We worked all day and these guys only worked an hour and you are paying them the same!" Or were you OK with being paid the exact same since you agreed upon the usual daily wage and that is what your employee paid? It wasn't as if he broke his promise, right?
Who will admit to being envious because the employee was generous and paid those who worked only 1 hour the same as those working 8 or 10 or 12? Don't you think the employee was unfair for having paid everyone the same when some worked much harder and longer than others?
How does this parable relate to the kingdom of heaven since this is what Jesus said the whole point of it was? And what does "so the last will be first, and the first will be last" mean?
What lessons can we learn from this parable? What "lessons" do you think the Chinese person who has to hide his faith might know from his situation that I might not know as one who has taken these freedoms for granted? Do you see how in some ways he may have the advantage? I daresay it makes a stronger believer if one realizes confiscation of property, torture and imprisonment are at stake for faith in Jesus Christ as opposed to one like me who believes in a nation that is favorable to Jesus. Adversity tends to make stronger - more dedicated - believers. I admire my brothers and sisters in Christ who have faith in spite of opposition and unfairness.
Do you agree with how I titled this post? Do you believe this parable demonstrates the "unfairness" of God? Do you agree that His "unfairness" can be a good thing? If you don't like the title, how would you rephrase it?
Thoughts on any of this?
9 comments:
Life isn't fair. :p
I think, for us in relation to God that it's not about 'fairness'. Fairness, for me, implies that we get what we deserve. If the world was fair, for instance, people who try to cheat others would get caught. Every single time. This doesn't happen as we all well know. If God gave each of us what we 'deserved' we'd all be screwed. :)
If we're comparing ourselves (you and I as Christians who live in a free country and face no real persecution for our faiths) with the Chinese Christians or those who live in countries where they aren't free to practice then I think that we would be the ones who only worked an hour and got full pay. God has promised to treat us all equally, where it counts, which is belief in Him, adherence to His commandments to us and eternal life. I think equity is a far better deal than 'fairness' at this point. :) After all, if we had to have a measuring contest - who had done more for their faith, who suffered more and who 'deserved' Heaven more then I think we'd be at the short end of the stick. :)
i disagree with the title so please change it to the "unfairness of humans". God justice will be served fully at the day if judgment life is an hour no more. Gods dosen't wrong people it is the people who wrong theirselves, if God , limitless in His Glory and kindness, where to take everyone to account right now He wouldn't have left even an animal on earth for their actions.
as regards to that verse you discussed dear Susanne,
the people who worked refused to complete the work required from them and refused their payments so the last ones got the job and got the rewards for the formers.
It is related from Abu Musa that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"The example of the Muslims, Jews and Christians is like that of a man who hires some people to work for him for a day until nightfall for a specified wage. They work until midday and say, 'We do not need the wage you stipulated for us and let the work we have done be discounted.' He says to them, 'Do not do that. Finish the rest of your work and take your wage in full.' They refuse and leave. He hires two workers after them and says to them, 'Finish the rest of this day and you will have the wage I stipulated for them.' They work until the time of the 'Asr prayer and say, 'Let our work be discounted and you keep the wage which you stipulated for us for doing it.' He says, 'Finish the rest of your work. There is only a little of the day left.' They refuse. He hires some more people to work for him for the rest of the day and they work for the rest of the day until the sun sets and they take the full wage of both of the other two groups. That is their example and the example of their non-acceptance of this light."
"Whatever Allah takes is for Him, and whatever He gives is for Him. Everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world), and so people should be patient and hope for Allah's reward."
God is so kind to his people.
i only say dear Susanne that it is unfair to think life will be fair.
Finnish the work God wanted from you and follow prophet Muhammad message for you :)
have a great day, oh is it snowing yet in the US?
Sometimes my dear Susanna, those who struggle to survive will have better place with God than those people who have good lots in life.
if Allah love someone he puts them into trails.
amount of money and comfort a person have doesn't reflect necessarily God's love for them.
and what is worse than a man who gains the world but loses the hereafter??
God will distribute His bounty according to what He wills. And we shouldn't question that
I also asked the same questions quite often myself, I hope God wouldn't be angry with me. I have had a very rough time concerning health several times in the past (thankfully to God I recover miraculously, I should admit!)and found my self asking "why meeeeee??" LOL.
Maybe I would sound like a broken record, because even if I believe that at the end God will see beyond all the surface of human matters, that He will judge us justly and mercily,that we should not be afraid even at the moment of trembling shaking faith, I still feel that I may not be made from qualified metal that can be burned and melted to become a beautiful vast (so typical of a coward).
But I do see that none of us are really really happy to the fullest and not desire anything else in this world. I can see that even the beautiful, rich ,intellectually and socially apted person do feel something is still missing here on earth. The world is full of so many combinations of struggle that we can't even imagine. And out of those combinations we can learn a lot for the future evolution of human approach on matters to shape the world into a better world.
It's just that we have to accept that there will be people born into those diverse of situations and none of us can actually choose to live certain form of life when we were born. I believe that people would genetically and dictated environmentally adaptive into those situations and God can hope that they will still bear good fruits regardless of the situations.
The other thing is that there are people who are called to bear different vocations in life that needs different skill, abilities, talents, sacrifices and so on. These calls might not seem from the men's eye view to resemble fairness, for example there are people who finds themselves called to bear the life of labor in industry, or to be teacher in a remote places facing problems just to have the ends meet. But there are people who are called to be leaders, to be businessman and so on. Nothing's wrong with that because no one can live only for himself or herself and there are multitudes of places on earth to render services.
But I believe that the sort of happiness and reward that people can achieve is just a matter of the shape of one's heart, the faith and the relationship with God that makes one's heart at peace, the assurance of peace. That's why, perhaps if we who are far from those dangerous threat or tribulations can't even imagine to survive the torture, those who face it directly can survive because they have those assurance and peace of mind. PERHAPS.....(in capital because I'm not sure myself).
I think we have to accept the fact that God in His "unfairness" actually does have the mercy to be the most important part. Fairness or not perhaps to God is just a matter of seeing differently, He does have a different angle. Does God as our Father would love someone better than the other? he sees through our weakness and strength. Those who are strong are asked to help the weak. So if we can see that there are people who faces danger on the other part of the world, don't we all have the obligation to help? It's us that have to learn to be merciful and have big heart to be able to accept that God can be as good to the other who don't seem to deserve it as to who seem to work very hard. That way, we can be happy and rejoice with the other.
Amber,I totally agree that we'd be "screwed" if we got what we deserved. I'm so glad you said that! Growing up I've often heard that we deserve hell, but by God's great grace, mercy and love we've been given life/salvation! Yahooo! :D
Wow! I never thought of this parable in the way that you compared it to us as the ones working 1 hour compared to the Chinese who have been working all day (so to speak). That's a great way to look at it and I loved what you said about that.
I've always heard it explained as we who have followed Christ for years and years and years (Iike if I were only 10 and started following him) as opposed to those who didn't accept Him as savior until they were older --- for some in their 20s, 30s, 50s, 70s, etc. That we should be fine with God's mercy extending to those who served Him ALL their lives as well as those who have only given their lives to Him in their later years or even on their death beds.
But I love the example you gave - thank you!
Kind Heart, I enjoyed reading your point of view concerning the parable as I've never heard that one before! But I think maybe the two stories are simply different and maybe each has its own lesson. :)
I intentionally wrote the title as a bit provocative and you see the "unfairness" is in quotes...I think God is "unfair" in the sense that He doesn't give us what we deserve! He gives us His kindness, mercy,love and grace so I'm glad He is "unfair." Maybe if I were going by the parable I could have chosen the GENEROSITY of God as a title. God, indeed, is very generous!
"and what is worse than a man who gains the world but loses the hereafter??"
I totally agree. We have a story about that in the Bible as well. A man had a lot of money and stuff and he said he would eat, drink and be merry, build bigger barns and such to store all his things, but the moral of it is: what does a man profit if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? Actually I might be mixing a couple of stories there, but the message holds regardless. :)
By the way, it's so nice seeing your photo. I always love putting faces with names. And red is one of my favorite colors. :)
Yes, it's snowing in parts of the US, but not where I live. :)
Observant Observer, oh, I can relate to your "why meeee" thing concerning health issues. My back has hurt me for two years and sometimes I struggle with those same feelings!
"I still feel that I may not be made from qualified metal that can be burned and melted to become a beautiful vast (so typical of a coward)."
I think I know what you are saying, but if you think of God as the Potter and us as clay, you can think how it is HIS job to choose the kind of "metal" and mold us. I don't think the Good Potter will get inferior clay. He wants us to rely on Him - that He desires our good and He is lovingly molding us into something beautiful and useful. It takes the pressure off of our trying to be good clay or metal when we realize GOD is in control and He loves us and is kind. But I'm like you in that I often forget this and feel as if I have to be superior clay/metal somehow.
" no one can live only for himself or herself and there are multitudes of places on earth to render services. "
I really liked this!
and this too:
"Those who are strong are asked to help the weak. So if we can see that there are people who faces danger on the other part of the world, don't we all have the obligation to help? It's us that have to learn to be merciful and have big heart"
Really enjoyed all that you shared! Thanks so much for what you added! :)
Wow! I never thought of this parable in the way that you compared it to us as the ones working 1 hour compared to the Chinese who have been working all day (so to speak). That's a great way to look at it and I loved what you said about that.
I've always heard it explained as we who have followed Christ for years and years and years (Iike if I were only 10 and started following him) as opposed to those who didn't accept Him as savior until they were older --- for some in their 20s, 30s, 50s, 70s, etc. That we should be fine with God's mercy extending to those who served Him ALL their lives as well as those who have only given their lives to Him in their later years or even on their death beds.
Your explanation is the one I've heard the most too. But something about you putting together the two topics made me think about it a different way. That's one of the great things about the Bible and Christ's parables in particular. They have so many layers of meaning! :)
Ah, I see. I'm so glad you saw it a new way. I really enjoyed it, Amber! :D
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