GPS-The Fair Thing

JAN 19 / Sunday – Read Luke 15: 25-32 / Matthew 20:1-16

Overview: Our view of what’s fair is often a strict “tit for tat”…an “eye for an eye” kind of justice, usually colored with a lot of self-interest. God looks at fairness through the lenses of mercy, a much healthier perspective.

20 / Mon – God’s view of fair  |  Read 2 Peter 3:9

Our view of fairness is often biased, colored by self-interest. It can be described as wanting an ‘eye for an eye’ but God looks at justice through the lens of mercy. Think about your own life. Can you think of a time when you deserved punishment but God extended mercy, even though there may have been consequences to deal with? And what about the times God blessed you with more than you deserved? It might be a good thing that God’s definition of fair isn’t the same as ours.

21 / Tue – Family issues  |  Read Luke 15:25-32

Let’s name the brothers in Jesus’ story. What was Bob’s problem with the welcome Joey got when he came home? What unresolved issues could have caused Bob to resent his little brother? Did he carry a grudge because of Joey’s disrespect to their father? Or did Bob secretly wish he could have taken off too? Was he proud because he had not? What quality enabled the dad to welcome Joey home but seemed lacking in Bob’s attitude? Who do you most identify in this it’s-not-fair story?

22 / Wed – Repeated injustice  |  Read Genesis 50:15-20

It was unfair that Jacob treated Joseph better than his other sons. The brothers were jealous and sold him into slavery. That was wrong. Joseph resisted Potiphar’s wife and was thrown in prison. That was unjust. The Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer forgot about Joseph until two years after he was released. That was unfair. But what was Joseph’s response when he stood before his brothers as Egypt’s second-in-command? What might have happened if Joseph continued the it’s-not-fair cycle? Are there times when you were treated unfairly but God used it for good? What happened?

23 / Thu – Sacrificial love  |  Read 1 Kings 3:16-27

King Solomon was known for his extraordinary wisdom. On this day, two mothers came to court with two babies, one living and one dead. Both claimed to be the mother of the living child. One of them had to be wrong. What was Solomon’s decree? What was the reaction of each woman? What motivated the real mother’s decision, even though the solution was unfair? Are you willing to give up what is ‘fair’ for something more important? Can you think of a time when you did?

24 / Fri – I deserve better  |  Read Matthew 20:1-16

Early in the morning, a landlord agreed to pay day laborers one denarius to work in his vineyard, a fair and standard wage. To everyone he hired later, he merely said he would pay them what was right. Why did the first workers complain about their pay at the end of the day? What was unfair to them? Were they greedy? See the landlord’s motivation v15b. That, in a nutshell, was the problem. How can you avoid being envious when God blesses someone more than you think is fair?

25 / Sat – Unexpected mercy  |  Read Luke 23:39-43

Two men. Same situation. Two different reactions. One was typical of people who often think they don’t deserve what they really do deserve for sins they commit because I’m not as bad as that guy over there. The other knew his own heart and confessed his guilt. Was Jesus unfair to grant the second man’s request? He still does this today, granting heaven at the last moment to those who haven’t lived right? Does this seem unfair when you have followed Jesus your whole life? Think back to the generous landlord from yesterday. God is just, but He is also merciful.