Fairness and Generosity

But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.

Matthew 20:13-14 English Standard Version

I know that not all characteristics have a gene that directly correlates, but if the fairness gene is ever discovered, I bet you I will have a double set. I love to feel fairly treated, to divide as evenly as possible, to make sure that all protocols are adhered to. So when I encounter stories like this, my first instinct is to side with the it's not fair crowd.

"I don't get compensated enough for the work I do."

"My generosity is not returned by this person or that person."

"I always get the grunt work in this situation."

Blah. Blah. Blah.

But the gentle admonition of the employer catches me by surprise every time. Maybe always thinking fair is too narrow minded, missing the point. It's not always about give and take. We are commanded to give all we've got because we can take all we need from Him.

Redefining "to live"

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39 English Standard Version

When I find myself feeling down, when I sift through my thoughts I often find my mind to be focusing on things of little eternal consequence. And then when I shift my mind toward things that are actually important to me, my spirits revive. I have to continually redefine what it is "to live."

"And they laughed at Him."

And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

Matthew 9:23-24 English Standard Version

There are few things that get my goat more than when people laugh at me, especially when they think I or what I am doing is stupid. Their ridicule severely discourages me; it causes me to question everything about who I am and what I am doing, since I am a people-pleaser at heart.

But I take courage from this verse, and they laughed at him. Obviously Jesus was doing nothing stupid, but they couldn't see that. They had no trust in God's ability to take even the saddest of ocassions and turn them to good. Often I question God when a situation goes ill. Why, God, why? And my question is more an accusation than anything else. So I guess sometimes I am the laugher, too.

Maybe instead of letting others' laughter get to me, I should take care to follow God no matter how stupid His guidance seems, and then to take full confidence in that guidance. And if they laugh at me, to remember this verse and its comfort.