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“Let’s not haggle about the price; just give me what you think is fair!” There have been times when I have said this to a close and trusted friend. Maybe it was about a bit of carpenter work I did for them, or perhaps they wanted to buy something from me for which I had no particular need. What follows are some thoughts on fairness that came to me after a Sunday morning Bible class.

It all started while we were discussing one of Jesus’ parables, the one sometimes styled The Hired Vineyard Laborers in Matthew 20.1-16. I will summarize it here but please read it for your self. A businessman contracted with certain men to labor in his vineyard for twelve hours at a set wage. Later, finding other men without jobs, he also sent these men into his fields agreeing only to pay them “what ever is right.” (see Matthew 20.4,5,7). To complicate the matter, the vineyard owner did this throughout the day (3 hours, 6 hours, 9 hours, and finally 11 hours into the work day). At the end of the day, he wished to pay off his laborers and he did so beginning from the most recently hired (5 PM) and proceeding to those hired earliest in the day (6AM).

As he began the process of settling accounts with the laborers, he paid the last workers the exact sum which he had agreed to pay those who had toiled the longest. He went through the ranks, paying each man the exact same amount without apparent regard to the length of time he had worked. When it came time to pay the 12 hour laborers, they thought surely that he would compensate them more than the agreed upon wage. When they only received that for which they had agreed, they complained (literally murmured) against the landowner. The man responded by saying, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20.13-15).

Without going into detail, I think the parable teaches the sovereignty of God and His goodness. However, it is a fact of human nature that we all have a sense of fairness. Likewise many of our disputes come when my sense of fairness does not agree with your sense of fairness. The first recorded murder took place because Cain did not think he was being treated fairly as compared to his brother, Abel. As commentary to this point, consider the society in which we live, arguably the most litigious society to have ever existed. If I don’t think its fair, look out; a lawsuit just might be coming your way! People who think their sense of fairness is superior to others protest everything from freckles to franchises! You name it, and we can get in an argument about, all the while citing what is fair!

Here’s the real truth. None of us is fair. Not a single one of us even knows, in the absolute sense, what is fair. When it comes to dealing with people and their situations, we seldom know all the facts but we are ready to jump in and say, “That’s not fair!” Like the 12 hour workers, we want everyone to play by our rules, even when its not our game they are playing! When it comes to fairness in human affairs, four observations are in order: First, we seldom if ever know all the facts. Secondly, we seldom if ever are wise enough to deal with all the facts even if we have them. Thirdly, we do not have the ability to set all things right even when we have all the facts. Fourthly, we seldom want fairness for our selves; we want favor!

The greatest fool is the one who will say on judgment, “Just give me what is fair!” As for me, I plan to beg for favor (grace), not fairness!

Questions:

1. What wrong was done (if any) by the vineyard owner? Was He fair? Regardless of your answer, by whose standards was he fair or unfair?

2. Why didn’t Cain just change his way of worship rather than kill his brother? Is it possible that he thought it was unfair for God to show favor to Abel while refusing to favor his own sacrifices?

3. Who is competent to say in the absolute and universal sense, “Life isn’t fair?” If life is not fair, is there any person or group of persons that can make it fair? Why or why not?

4. Is it possible that eternity and the rewards meted out there will make life fair? If yes, who is responsible for the final settling of all accounts? Is He fair? By whose standards do you answer?

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Honoring A Father