This Week’s Message Notes

July 27, 2025

“Building My Life on Eternal Values, pt 5 - Fairness”

Solomon made it clear, life is unfair.

“ When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

“Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter.” Ecclesiastes 4:1

Even the righteous suffer.

“There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 8:14

Why Does God allow unfairness?

1. Because he gives us freedom of choice.

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—" Deuteronomy 11:26

2. Because he will judge us one day.

“ I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17

3. Because it can build character.

“perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:4

God is more interested in your growth than comfort.

How should I respond to unfairness?

· Respond to it with grace.

“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13

· Respond to those that hurt us lovingly.

We have a choice to be better not bitter.

“This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”

Jeremiah 22:3 Be conscious of God in your life.

“if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.” 2 Peter 2:9

REMEMBER:

· God cares and loves you deeply.

· Your trials will produce spiritual growth.

· You are a Child of God.

(Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation second edition, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Message adapted from pastors.com