Not Fair

As seen in the  "The Heartbeat" and published in the Hot Springs Village Voice

We’ve all heard the term "life’s not fair." We see others receiving accolades for doing very little while we work hard and our efforts go unnoticed. This is especially true in the workplace. I can remember entering a new job with the State of Arkansas in the month of April many years ago. The beginning of the fiscal year came only a few months later, and with it came the approved increases in salaries. Each person received the same percentage increase in their paycheck. I remember some of my peers voiced their dissatisfaction in the system. They said, "Those who were just hired received the same increase as those who have worked all year long, and that’s not fair!"

There is a very familiar verse in Malachi. God tells us in verse 10 to "test me." There is no other place in the entire Bible where we have been invited to put God to the test! So, what are the conditions of this test? The criteria of this invitation relates to the giving of tithes, and how much they are.

To begin, God tells the people through the prophet Malachi to bring in a tithe, a tenth, of their produce to the temple so "there may be food in my house." Then if we follow this request, God says, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

There are two important aspects to these few verses where we as humans may think, "That’s not fair!" God does tell everyone to bring in the same amount to the temple – a tenth. A tenth of a hundred dollars is ten, a tenth of a thousand dollars is a hundred, and a tenth of twenty cents is two pennies. We do not all make or produce equal amounts; therefore we cannot all give the same amount. I think we can all agree some people have more than others, but the same formula applies equally.

But what about the blessings God promises? God said He would open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings. He didn’t say if you’ve given more, you’re going to get more blessings. Nor did He say if you’ve given less, you will receive less. God does not say He will open the "floodgates" to different degrees for different people. God blesses all equally, according to His goodness and mercy.

God is a merciful God. In all truthfulness, we don’t deserve anything from God other than death. But He loves us so much and has covered us with His grace. By accepting His Son as our Savior, we all receive eternal life –not in part but in FULL! Let’s praise God for His wonderful goodness, and what He has in store for us in eternity, for all His children equally!

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