Dear Reader

“Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal?”* (Ezekiel 18:25)

Two years ago my father-in-law died without a valid will, so that his estate had to go through the complex legal process known as probate. The six children agreed on appointing one of themselves as the executor, or personal representative; then a long, often tortuous process ensued, involving the division of possessions, efforts to sell a large piece of property, dealings with attorneys, a CPA, and financial manager. As both an observer and participant in the process, I have found an amazing number of ways that the issue of “fairness” has come up, both for others and ourselves, and an education that the Lord began for me long ago entered a new and sometimes fiery stage.

“What is fair?” We all have our perspective, don’t we? Although the Lord has long taught me that only He knows what true justice is, it is amazing how many ways my own sense of “fairness” has been aroused. Also, even though my wife was not the personal representative, we have found ourselves on more than one occasion serving as mediators among those who had different ideas of what is fair.

Sometimes, like the man who asked Jesus to speak to his brother to divide the inheritance with him, there is another problem at the root of what we think is unfairness (Luke 12:13-15).

Sometimes, we differ in our sense of fairness because of how certain experiences, our current circumstances, or our limited grasp of the facts shape our thinking.

So we disagree, with one saying “this is fair,” and another saying, “no, this is fair.” And sometimes, I look back at something I thought was unfair at the time and realize it was better or “more fair” than I thought.

We don’t really know what “fair” is as well as we think. The scripture at the beginning speaks to this misconception we have. If we really want to learn what “fair” is, we need to learn from God. One child, after growing up, asked their parents why they were spanked more than one of their siblings. The parents answered that they needed more spankings. The parents didn’t treat their children exactly the same because they weren’t exactly the same. And the Lord doesn’t treat us all exactly the same, either. Some seem to have more opportunities than others, and some seem to have more sufferings than others. But God knows what He is doing! When all things come to light on the judgment day, everyone will understand that God has been completely fair with us. Furthermore, even those who go to Hell will recognize that God is being completely fair with them, though the knowledge will bring only bitter remorse.

Dear reader, I want to get all the good out of God’s dealings with me, because I know that regardless of how they feel to me, God is being fair. More than that, He designs all that He allows to come my way so that I can benefit greatly, if I will apply to Him for help to get the benefits. Isn’t it wonderful that God is able to turn everything bad in our lives into something that can bring us good? Won’t you trust God, too, and apply to Him for help to get the good out of everything you go through?

The probate process isn’t finished yet, and I still have more lessons to learn.

Love and prayers,
The Editor