Life is full of unanswered questions and unwanted circumstances. We don't like it, but it is. It also seems like everywhere we look, the world is full of what we would call unfair pain. None of us want pain. We don't like pain. Pain can call into question everything we believe about God. No wonder we love the idea of God who protects us from pain. We love the idea that if we do good, God will do good to us. What if that isn't true at all? What if beyond life not being fair, God was also not fair? What would that mean? Perhaps there something better than God being fair?
1. What is it that we like about the idea of God being fair?
2. Had you considered any of the Old Testament examples given this morning of gross unfairness? Why is it important we talk about these things rather than ignoring them?
3. Have you ever experienced some type of pain you perceived as unfair that made you question what God was doing? How did you wrestle with that? Did it change the way you think about God?
4. What did we learn about God from the story Jesus told of the wealthy landowner (Matthew 20)?
5. In John 5, Jesus performed a miracle on a man who had been sick 38 years. Had you ever considered all the other people who were not healed that day? How do you think you would have felt if you were one of the ones passed over?
6. Why do we tend to view unfair as wrong? Why is it important to grasp that unfair doesn't equal wrong?
7. Why is grace better than fairness?
8. Why is the cross a great reminder that God can use unfair pain and be right in doing so, while also doing good for others at the same time?
9. Why is the world to come such an important part of how Christians see how what seems unfair in the present?
Don't expect God to be fair. Be grateful He is gracious.
2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
