“Fair” According To God’s Word

“Fair” According to God’s Word

The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Hebrews 4:12

I can’t tell you how many times as a teenager I told my mom, “That’s not fair!” Or how many times I’ve heard the same words from my kids’ mouths. Fair to a teenager is watching the movies the other kids watch, listening to the same popular music, and wearing similar clothes—no matter what values or lyrics or body parts are compromised. The Amish hear the same things from their kids—and from the world around them. There are those who believe that without television, popular music, and the Internet, Amish children are deprived of happy childhoods. I love how one Amish father, Isaac R. Horst, responded:

We also “deprive” our children of the evil influence of the TV, the exposure to crime, violence, immorality, liquor, and drugs. We deprive them of the addictive pursuit of pleasure, of becoming sports or entertainment fanatics.

Instead of all manner of public entertainment, our children find enjoyment in nature on the farm: the baby chicks, cuddly kittens, and playful puppies. They learn to know and appreciate the wild animals and birds abounding in woodland and meadow. They swim and fish in pond and stream. Above all, they enjoy learning and doing.

I’m reminded of times when I’ve declared, “That’s not fair,” when I’ve seen the success of an unbeliever or thought of the “fun” I’m missing out on by choosing to live a righteous life. God’s Word cuts through “fairness” and moves straight to issues of our hearts.

Some may think that God’s Word deprives us of what looks like fun. The truth is, it protects us. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires, and points us to a Savior who died unfairly for our salvation.

Dear heavenly Father, if all things were fair, I would have to die for my sins and spend eternity apart from You. I’m thankful that You didn’t stick to what’s “fair”!