Fairness

We all have some things that we enjoy. I am no different. Two of the things that I enjoy are writing and attending a good movie. Because of that combination, there are usually one or two lines in any movie that stand out to me.

Some time back I saw one of my favorite types of movies, a GOOD western. (Note the emphasis on the word good.) I saw the Clint Eastwood western "Unforgiven." Ignoring the fact that Eastwood is one of my favorite actors, I enjoyed the movie. As far as plots go, the movie was unusual, but as is usually the case it had one line that really hit me.

As the town sheriff, portrayed by Gene Hackman, was about to be shot, he said "This isn't fair. I've got a house. This isn't fair." At that moment Eastwood responded: "Fair, ain't got nothin' to do with it."

For some time I thought about that line. How many times in our life do we feel like: "It ain't fair?"

All around you there are people who are prosperous, and you can barely pay the bills. It ain't fair.

Your car breaks down so often that commuters think it is part of the freeway decor. As you sit and fume, you speak: "It ain't fair."

You sit and watch as someone you dearly love suffers physical pain. It ain't fair.

You stand and look into the coffin at the body of someone you loved dearly, and realize that in this life, you will never see them again. It ain't fair.

You contemplate another evening at home alone. It ain't fair.

You heat up your hot dog for a holiday meal, and think of families enjoying time together. "Why do I not have someone special to share time with?" you ask. It ain't fair.

You try to have a clear conscience in your business dealings; you treat people honestly and fairly, only to see those who are unscrupulous prosper far beyond you. It ain't fair.

A tragedy in your life has left you with a pain that is so severe that you can scarcely stand it. The pain is so real that your chest literally aches. It ain't fair.

Fair, ain't got nothin' to do with it.

God's sovereignty and righteousness have everything to do with it. Would you like a layman's description of those terms? It basically means this: God will do whatever he wants to do, however He wants to do it, whenever He wants to do it and it will be right.

Abraham put it this way: "Will not the judge of all the earth, do right." Genesis 18:25

We have two choices here. Either He is sovereign or He is not. There is no middle ground. You don't need any, He IS in control. He does love you and has your best interest in mind. Everything that is in your life and mine has been cleared by God, and it is right.

You see, it is not a matter of whether or not it is fair. It is not even matter of whether or not I understand, because as I said in "There is no spoon," I, and you, do not and cannot. It is a matter of whether or not we choose to place our faith in God's righteousness and sovereignty. It is a matter of whether or not we trust His judgment.

Fair ain't got nothin' to do with it. Faith, when it quite simply does not make sense, has everything to do with it.