...it's not fair when a wonderful person is struck with an awful disease...
...it's not fair when one person is born into poverty and another into wealth...
...it's not fair when people who don't act with integrity and yet seem to get ahead...
The list goes on and on... The issues at times are very subtle, and at other times overt! Somehow I have the sense of being cheated when I, or another person, doesn't get their fair share, or their fair due! Anyways, who gets to decide?
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| From www.mimiandeunice.com |
The line moves, so where is the real measure of fairness? Does fair mean equal? Does fairness get measured on what someone receives, or upon the outcome achieved? The matter can get quite confusing!!!
Fairness compounds and gets worse! I've learned that matters of fairness begin to invite questions of greed...and entitlement... Questions like...did I get enough? ...move to could I have gotten more?
Maybe, just maybe, that's a wrong question!
Mission, Jesus style teaches that we were called to more than fairness; we were called to freedom. Freedom to love one another unconditionally and not bound up in worry over matters of fairness and greed. Mission, Jesus style helps us to know that because of the brokenness in this world, caused by sin, life is no longer fair.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. GALATIANS 5:13-15
God is teaching me to trust in His provision, knowing there will always be enough, and learning to live with an open hand. It challenges me every day! I think I understand, and then it sneaks up on me in unexpected ways.
One of these ways is through my work in urban ministry, which takes me all around the Baltimore area. Often times there are people asking for a handout of some sort (money, food, work, etc...) at various intersections. Are the questions that flood through your mind the same as mine?
- are their intentions honest?
- am I supposed to help everyone?
- how much should I give?
- along with a prayer that the light will turn before they approach my car!
God is trying to teach me something through these all too frequent experiences. I don't have it figured out, however I know He's calling me to live it out as mission, Jesus style, to serve one another in love, to not use my freedom to indulge my sinful nature. It's a process in motion!
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 PETER 4:8
I give thanks that God acts with more than fairness, He acts in grace!
1 comment:
I constantly find myself judging someones "worthiness" for my handouts! Especially when you go from intersection to intersection and see signs that almost match word for word....i feel scammed...how do i choose who to help...i could just give to an organization..but sometimes people never make out there and they really do need help....
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