The Daily CHEW™
Moving God’s Love from Head to Heart for Christian Professionals
When “That’s Not Fair” Becomes Our Theology
Marcus, a high-performer at a consulting firm, watched a colleague get promoted despite producing inferior work. “Where’s God in this?” he fumed. “I’ve been faithful, worked hard, played by the rules—and this is what I get? It’s not fair!” His theology professor friend gently asked: “Who told you God’s kingdom operates on your definition of fair?” That question stopped Marcus cold. He’d spent years demanding God play by rules Marcus invented—rules where merit equals reward, effort equals outcome, and equality always looks the same.
The Gospel Pattern: God Defines Fairness, Not Humans
Here’s what transforms everything: Jesus told a parable specifically to demolish our human concept of fairness and replace it with God’s definition of justice. In Matthew 20:1-16, a landowner hires workers throughout the day—some at dawn, some at noon, some at 5pm—yet pays them all the same wage. When the all-day workers complain about inequality, the landowner asks: “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?” (Matthew 20:15).
The revolutionary insight: This parable doesn’t just challenge our sense of fairness—it destroys it entirely. God isn’t interested in our human calculations of who “deserves” what. The kingdom of God operates on love and grace, not on proportionate rewards for proportionate efforts. As one scholar notes: “The kingdom of God does not operate on the basis of fairness. The kingdom of God operates on love, and—in a certain sense—love is its own form of injustice”.
Three Biblical Truths About God’s Right to Define Fairness:
1. God’s Sovereignty Means He Defines What’s Fair—We Don’t
Romans 9 makes the most uncomfortable statement in Scripture: “Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?” (Romans 9:21). Paul anticipates the objection: “That’s not fair! How can God hold us responsible if He’s sovereign over outcomes?” His response? “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” (Romans 9:20).
The point: Whatever ideas we have about fairness—what “fair” IS—is not nearly as important as what God says fairness is. We have no business questioning Him or evaluating His decisions. God gets to define what fair is because He is God. Our definitions of fairness are shaped by sin, limited perspective, and self-interest. God’s definition of fairness is shaped by infinite wisdom, perfect knowledge of all outcomes, and flawless righteousness.
2. If God Were “Fair” By Human Standards, We’d All Be Condemned
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: If God operated by strict human fairness—everyone getting exactly what they deserve—we would all spend eternity in hell paying for our sin. Romans 3:23 says we’ve all sinned. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Fair would be eternal separation from God.
But God is not “fair” by human standards—He’s gracious. It’s not fair that Jesus suffered for our sin. It’s not fair that we receive grace we didn’t earn. It’s not fair that God forgives when we confess. As 1 John 1:9 says, when we confess, God is “faithful and just” to forgive—just, because Jesus bore the penalty; not fair, because we deserved condemnation.
The parable shows this: The workers hired at 5pm worked one hour and received a full day’s wage. That’s not fair—that’s grace. And grace, by definition, gives what isn’t deserved. If you demand fairness, you’re demanding judgment. If you receive grace, you’re accepting God’s better definition of justice.
3. Our Envy Reveals We Want God’s Blessings Withheld From Others
The landowner asked the complaining workers: “Is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15). “Evil eye” was a Hebrew expression for jealousy and envy. The workers’ complaint wasn’t really about fairness—it was about resentment that others received the same blessing without earning it.
This is the dark heart of demanding human fairness: We don’t really want everyone to get what they deserve. We want US to get more than we deserve, and THEM to get less than we deserve. We’re fine with grace when it flows toward us, but offended when it flows equally to others. The Pharisees hated Jesus for offering the kingdom to “unworthy” sinners He made equal to them.
The parable exposes this: “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us” (Matthew 20:12). The complaint is about equality—not fairness. They received exactly what they agreed to, but they resented God’s generosity to others.
CHEW On This™ in 3-5 Minutes (Precise, God-Focused)
Confess (C) to God:
“Father, here’s what I’m honestly feeling: I’ve been demanding You operate by my definition of fair—where I get what I ‘deserve’ for my efforts, and others don’t get what they haven’t earned. I confess my envy when You bless others generously, and my resentment when You don’t reward me proportionally to my work.”
Hear (H) from God in Scripture:
“Father, what Scripture do You want me to wrestle with about who defines fairness?”
“Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15)
“Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?'” (Romans 9:20)
(What is true about You or Your love in this? You are God—You define what’s fair, not me. Your grace isn’t “fair” by human standards, and I should be grateful, not resentful.)
Exchange (E) with God:
- Option 1 (Beginner):
“If I really believed God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, what would change right now?” - Option 2 (Intermediate):
“If I really believed God loves me as much as He loves Jesus—showing grace that’s not ‘fair’ by human standards but perfect by His—how would that change my resentment when He blesses others differently than me?” - Option 3 (Advanced):
“If I really believed God’s love includes the sovereign right to define fairness—that He’s the Potter and I’m the clay, and His definitions of justice are infinitely wiser than mine—how would that transform my demand for proportional rewards and my envy of others’ blessings?”
“Today, I give You my demand that You operate by my definition of fair, and take hold of Your truth that You are God—and Your grace, though not ‘fair,’ is perfect.”
Walk (W) with the Holy Spirit:
“Holy Spirit, please guide me to surrender my definitions of fairness to God’s sovereignty.”
“Here’s the step I believe pleases You: When I’m tempted to complain ‘that’s not fair,’ I’ll immediately CHEW on God’s right to be generous as He chooses—replacing envy with gratitude for grace I don’t deserve either.”
“Holy Spirit, if there’s a better step, shift me!”
What Changes When God Defines Fairness
When you surrender your definition of fair to God’s sovereignty:
You stop demanding proportional rewards and start receiving grace with humility
You stop resenting others’ blessings and start celebrating God’s generosity
You recognize that if God were “fair” by human standards, you’d be condemned
You trade envy for worship—thanking God that His grace flows to you despite what you deserve
You focus on faithfulness instead of comparing your rewards to others’
Worship: The God Whose Grace Offends Our Fairness
Worship God today as the Potter who has absolute right over the clay. Thank Him that He doesn’t operate by human fairness—because if He did, none of us would receive grace. His “unfair” generosity is our only hope.
Community + Resources
Community:
Process God’s scandalous grace alongside others who understand that His definitions matter more than ours. Find support here.
Want More?
The Daily CHEW™ | Make CHEWing a daily rhythm
Select Resources:
- God’s Love: The Surprising Source of Sustainable Discipline
- What Are Core Beliefs?
- When God’s Promises Meet Our Mixed Faith
With you on the journey,
Ryan
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