PARABLES OF JESUS – It's Not Fair
Matthew 20:15
" 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' "
"It's not fair!" That's what the workers who had toiled all day in the vineyard felt. How many times have I heard that in my life? How many times have I thought it myself? Fairness is a human way of thinking. God's paradigm is different. It is based on justice and mercy – His righteous law and His goodness. Justice does what is right; Mercy gives what we don't deserve. Psalm 89:14 says, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face." So the master of the vineyard was just in paying the laborers what He had agreed to pay them, but he was merciful because he paid some of the workers more than they deserved. If God did things based on fairness, we would all be in a heap of trouble, because we all deserve to be punished for our sin. His justice was satisfied when Jesus died on the cross; His mercy is fulfilled when He freely gave us salvation. Praise God, He does not deal with us in fairness. If I criticize His goodness, I am saying He is evil.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God's way is justice and mercy – not fairness.
Have a just and merciful day. Love you.
Matthew 20:15
" 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' "
"It's not fair!" That's what the workers who had toiled all day in the vineyard felt. How many times have I heard that in my life? How many times have I thought it myself? Fairness is a human way of thinking. God's paradigm is different. It is based on justice and mercy – His righteous law and His goodness. Justice does what is right; Mercy gives what we don't deserve. Psalm 89:14 says, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face." So the master of the vineyard was just in paying the laborers what He had agreed to pay them, but he was merciful because he paid some of the workers more than they deserved. If God did things based on fairness, we would all be in a heap of trouble, because we all deserve to be punished for our sin. His justice was satisfied when Jesus died on the cross; His mercy is fulfilled when He freely gave us salvation. Praise God, He does not deal with us in fairness. If I criticize His goodness, I am saying He is evil.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God's way is justice and mercy – not fairness.
Have a just and merciful day. Love you.
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