Life is NOT FAIR.

• Has life ever seemed unfair to you? Of course it has, because Life is not fair. When you were a kid did you ever run home yelling to your Mom: "I don't want to ever play with Johnny again, he doesn't play fair!" If you believe that everyone who makes more then $ 250,000 a year is rich, and it isn't fair that they make that much money and you don't, guess what? Life is NOT fair. Don't dwell on how they got their money, don't constantly want to make them pay because they succeeded at something and you don't have the means to even try. LIFE IS NOT FAIR. Do you ever think that God is not fair? "Wow, God, I pay my tithe, I attend services every time the door is opened, I help out at the dinners on Wednesday night, I help take up the offering. But Joe, over there, doesn't do anything and look at how much money he makes. He has a new Mercadez, a beautiful house overlooking the lake, and look at his beautiful wife. God, why aren't you fair?" Philippians 4:11 "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have." I have always loved this about Paul, he was the perfect example of how life is not fair, yet he made the above statement. Paul was a Roman citizen, he grew up with more then likely, everything he needed and wanted. He was educated, he was waited on, respected, and had a great job. (Yes it was going around and trying to convert or kill these new thinking Christians, but I am sure he was paid well.) So he knew what life was like being wealthy, and having everything he needed. But then he found Jesus, or should I say, Jesus picked him. From that point on, Paul was a different person. He changed his name, because he had become someone new. Saul was now Paul. The rest of his life, he was in prison, shipwrecked, beat, spat on, disrespected, made fun, of.......All because of this Jesus. So when he says: .............I have learned to be content with whatever I have." That speaks to me, because he knows what he is saying. Life is not fair, just ask Paul when you see him in heaven. "Hey, Paul, was life on earth fair?" "Let me tell you what Jesus did for me............" will more then likely be his response. He lost everything on earth and found Jesus. God provided REAL riches, REAL abundance, REAL joy, REAL treasure. I sometimes wonder, like us all, why some people have a lot of money and others don't. I think, this is just my opinion here so don't get to excited, that God knows our hearts, so He knows which of us can handle what He gives us and which of us that could not. I don't think I could handle being wealthy, I am a very selfish person. I love to spend money on ME> If I had a ton of money, guess where I would spend it? On anything that would give me pleasure. God, knowing this, give me just enough to make me comfortable, but not enough to blow. I know a older couple at my church that have quite a bit of money. He is retired from a large transportation company he built from the ground up in California. They have a VERY nice house right on a golf course, they drive really nice cars. But they are the most humble, nicest, sweetest, caring, serving people I know. They know how to not let money take root and ruin their walk with God. God, of course, knows this and rewarded them. I get upset when my football team doesn't get the "bump" in the latest polls, even though I think they should be number one. I try and argue my case, "Hey they lost to the number one team by only 3 points, and the team you have at number 2 lost to a unranked team, it is political..........." Yes, I do sometimes think that, but like I told a friend of mine recently: "Life is not fair". Did you know that God IS fair? Look at how He set up "Tithing". Ten percent of what you have coming in, belongs to the house of God. That is not 10% of the people who make over $500,000, But 10% of everyone. No, deductions for giving to the Red Cross, no deductions for volunteering at church once a month, nothing, just a straight 10% of your income. If you get ten cents, your to pay a penny. 10%, How easy is that. Could this work for the USA? Wow, how radical would that be, basing our monetary system on the Bible. THAT is fair. God pours out his Judgement on the just and the unjust. Storms don't just effect those that are Christians, but everyone. People who don't know the Lord as their personal savior aren't always sparred tragedy. Life is NOT fair. BUT God is. EVERYONE has a chance to become saved from hell. God makes sure EVERYONE is given that chance. He will not return until every last one of us, has been given that opportunity, and either accepted or rejected Christ. If a tornado was coming straight towards your house, and the emergency people came around and started evacuating your neighborhood, you have the choice to leave or to "stick it out". Is it unfair if you decide to stay, and your house is destroyed, and you and your family are killed? Of course not, you were given the choice to stay or leave, and you choose wrong. I think most of the time we, as humans, get being unfair, and choice confused. If you get laid off from your job, and start collecting unemployment, and then the unemployment runs out, then you shout about how unfair this is, and try to get an extension, But you never applied at one place once. You did not want to work at McDonald's, because that was to "below" you. Is this fair? Your family is now facing having nothing no income at all because of a choice you made. No, it is not about fairness, it is about choice. If there is a job available and you refuse it just because of pride, and others suffer because of YOUR choice, that has nothing to do with fairness. That is a Pride issue, on your part. When we get to the throne in Heaven, and are judged for our actions on earth, this will be a FAIR judging. No excuses, no "But God's" He knows ALL about us. Nothing will be hidden, talk about FAIR. Our God is a FAIR and JUST God. He deals out punishment or reward equally, regardless of color, race, nationally religion, sex, sexual persuasion, income level, standing in the community, position at your office, occupation, WHO you may know (unless, of course, Who you know is God's Son, Jesus, that WILL have much to do with His judgement!!). Life is not Fair, this is because we, as humans, are not perfect. Believe that, we aren't perfect? That is a hard pill to swallow, isn't it? NO< YOUR NOT PERFECT!!! (Me neither). This is why the world is such a mess, we make mistakes, and life is not fair. Let us stop worrying about what is and what is not fair, and try and see how much God loves us, and wants us to be with Him. I am sorry life is not fair, but that is the way it is. God, however is fair. He wants you to be fair also. Treat everyone you meet with the same respect, love, attention, you know "Fairness" you would anyone else. Jesus is coming back soon, and He is taking those that know Him back to be with Him. Some see this as unfairness, but we were all given a choice, if we choose US over HIM, we cannot call it unfair. And remember Fair is just a place were they have cotton candy and carnival rides. Oh Cotton Candy, sounds good.