What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! (Rom. 9:14)
Expanded Passage: Romans 9:5, 14
Probably every child has said in frustration at one time or another, “That’s not fair!”
One child feels slighted because their parents won’t permit them to do what an older sibling can do. Or a student in school may feel the teacher gives one classmate a privilege that is not available to another.
Even adults may give in to the temptation to feel cheated. An employer may honor one employee over another. The person who feels slighted may think they have not been treated fairly. Actually, the honored employee may have done extra work or superior work and is entirely worthy of the honor. The reality is that the boss may honor whomever they wish.
Sometimes we may even think God is unfair. Maybe we don’t like his rules, especially if they run contrary to what we prefer to do. But as I heard someone say recently, “When you get your own planet, you can make your own rules. But for now, this is God’s planet, and we live by his rules.”
As Paul told the Romans, “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort but on God’s mercy” (Rom. 9:16).
If we’re honest, we all have to admit: If God treated us all as we deserve, we would still be lost. It’s because of his mercy that he adopts us as his children.
Consider God’s mercy and don’t worry about being treated fairly.
Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church. He lives in Michigan and has two sons, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
