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Q&A Part 5 – Why Isn’t Life Fair?

Pastor Scott Applegate

Sermon Notes:

 1. The reality is, life is unfair! 

  • Criminals go unpunished.

“Why do people commit crimes?  Because crime is not punished quickly enough.”  Ecclesiastes 8:11 GN

  • The oppressed are un-helped.

“Then I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world.  The oppressed were crying and no one would help them…their oppressors had power on their side.”  Ecclesiastes 4:1 GN

  • Politicians can be unethical.

“If you see … miscarriage of justice anywhere throughout the land, don’t be surprised!  For every official is under orders from higher up, and the higher officials look up to their superiors. And so the matter is lost in red tape and bureaucracy.”  Ecclesiastes 5:8 LB

  • Good people are unrewarded.

“There is something else meaningless… righteous men who get what the wicked deserve and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve.”  Ecclesiastes 8:14 NIV

  • Capable people are unsuccessful.

“In this world fast runners do not always win the races … wise men don’t always earn a living, intelligent men don’t always get rich, and capable men don’t always rise to high positions.”  Ecclesiastes 9:11 GN

2. What are the reasons God allows life to be unfair?  

  • Because He gives us the freedom to choose.

 “I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse…”  Deuteronomy 11:26 NIV

  • Because He is the ultimate Judge.

“In due season God will judge everything man does, both good and bad.”  Ecclesiastes 3:17 LB

  • Because we need to know we need a Savior.

“There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never sins.”  Ecclesiastes 7:20 NIV

“God is letting the world go on its sinful way so he can test mankind, and so that men will see that they are no better than beasts.”  Ecclesiastes 3:18 LB

“We all have sinned… yet now God declares us `not guilty’ … if we trust in Jesus Christ who freely takes away our sins.”  Romans 3:23-24 LB

  • Because pain can develop character.

“… suffering produces character …”  Romans 5:4 NIV

3. What should my response be when life is unfair?

  • Accept that life is unfair.

“In the world you will have trouble….”  John 16:33 NIV

  • Always do what you know is right to do.

“Learn to do right.  See that justice is done, help those who are oppressed.”  Isaiah 1:17 NIV

  • Anticipate God’s rewards in heaven.

“These … temporary troubles are winning for us a permanent reward out of all proportion to our pain.”    2 Corinthians 5:17 JBP