LIFE ISN’T FAIR
1 PETER 2:11-25
INTRODUCTION
Life Isn’t Fair.
* In the very first family, Adam and Eve had one son kill another over worshipping God (of all things) and that son was banished out of the family. That isn’t fair. (Genesis 4)
* Abraham had a son born to him by another woman (at the insistence of his wife) named Ishmael and because his wife Sarah became jealous he had to send his son out into the desert to die. His family was broken up because of jealousy. (Genesis 21)
* Jacob works for seven years for the love of his life Rachel and at the last minute the father switches the daughters and he has to marry the sister he does not love. He then has to work 7 more years for the woman he agreed to marry in the first place. (Genesis 29)
* Joseph is sold into slavery, falsely accused and sent to prison, forgotten about, and has to spend a great deal of his life away from his family. That isn’t fair. (Genesis 37-40)
* Moses leads the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and all they do is complain, whine, make golden calves, disobey God, and blame Moses for all their troubles. We do not see the people of Israel thanking Moses for his leadership. (Exodus 12-18)
* After a great victory in war from God, Jephthah makes a good faith oath to God that he would sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his door to God and what comes out of his door is not a cow or a goat, but his daughter. That isn’t fair. (Judges 11)
* Samson is a prostitute lover, irreverent, disobedient to his parents, vengeful, sadistic, slanderous, a liar, a cheater, and dozens of other adjectives that are sinful and yet God uses him in a mighty way over and over and blesses him through the Holy Spirit. That really isn’t fair. (Judges 13-16)
* Hannah is a good, prayerful, faith-filled woman and yet God allows her to be barren and to be in a marriage where she is constantly put down and constantly verbally attacked. (1 Samuel 1)
* David does nothing wrong, but has a maniac king trying to kill him, sends him on the run, makes him know hunger, thirst, and need. Later in David’s life one child rapes another, one child tries to kill him, and several of his children die before his eyes. (2 Samuel)
* One day the priests are moving the Ark of the Covenant and the ox stumbled while pulling the cart. A man named Uzzah reached out to prevent the Ark of the Covenant from falling to the ground. When he touched the ark, he died on the spot. That doesn’t seem fair. (2 Samuel 6).
* Israel gets a king named Rehoboam who is the son of Solomon and the grandson of David and as soon as he begins to reign undoes everything David and Solomon built in their two lifetimes. The people of God go from a united nation to two nations that hate each other. (1 Kings 14)
* A man named Naboth has a nice vineyard and simply because the king wants it, he is falsely accused and killed. That isn’t fair. Not even a little. (1 Kings 21)
* God admits that Job is one of the most righteous and good men who has ever lived and Job looses all 10 of his children to death, looses his home, his money, his health, his reputation, and even good friends. Good people should have good things happen to them. That isn’t fair. (Job 1)
* Daniel gets thrown into a lion’s den full of hungry ferocious lions for praying. (Daniel 6)
* Hosea is a good holy prophet of God who is commanded by God to marry a prostitute who does not love him, who has children by other men, and whom he must buy back from her sexual habits. Basically God commands Hosea to be cheated on an unhappy in his married life. That isn’t fair. (Hosea 1-3)
* God sends the prophet Jonah to the sinful people of Nineveh who do not deserve mercy or grace and deserve to be judged and wiped off the face of the earth. God sends Jonah and they listen and God spares Nineveh from His wrath. Evil people should get what is coming to them. That isn’t fair. (Jonah 1-4)
* John the Baptist is the first prophet of God in 400 years for the people of Israel. He preaches and calls people to repentance. He points people towards the Savior. They put him in prison and chop off his head. (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 3)
* Jesus Christ is arrested for nothing. One of His best friends betrays Him to the authorities. Another best friend denies even knowing Him. All of His other friends desert Him. He is found innocent in a court of law and is still killed like the worst type of criminal. That isn’t fair. (Luke 22-24)
* A man named Saul is breathing out murderous threats against Christians. He has them killed and imprisoned. He ends up becoming a believer and all is forgiven. People died and yet he gets to change his name and go on freely about his business. (Acts 9)
* The Apostle Paul is the most amazing church planter and teacher in the first century church. He has some sort of ailment which he calls “a thorn in my flesh” because he was given great revelations from God. He prays diligently that God would remove it from him and God basically says “no.” Shouldn’t people who work hard for God have fewer problems than godless heathens? Seems unfair somehow. (2 Corinthians 12)
Why have I mentioned all these things to you? What do the stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jepthah, Job, Hosea, and so many others have to do with us? I could mention many more to be honest. I want you to realize an inexhaustible truth: The Bible never once says that life is fair. The. Bible. Never. Once. Says. That. Life. Is. Fair. In fact, the Bible presents us with the perspective of human life that is not fair, stacked against us, constantly frustrating, and sometimes pointless. This morning as we prepare to read from 1 Peter 2, I want you to keep an important truth and a key question in your minds and at the forefront of your thinking as we read. I want you to keep a truth in your minds: Life isn’t fair. I want you to keep a question in your hearts as well: What are we as believers supposed to do about it?
KEY PHRASE: Life Isn’t Fair. What are we as believers supposed to do about it?
READ 1 Peter 2:11-25 WITH COMMENTARY BETWEEN VERSES
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
[We should notice the situation we are in as we begin to read this passage. Peter has spent one and a half chapters (1 Peter 1 & 2) instructing us on our identities as believers in Jesus Christ. He has told us as believers in Jesus we are strangers in this world and now it comes to the time when such things matter and he gets to practical living. Peter connects the dots from our faith in Jesus Christ to how we manage each day in our lives. If we are believers in Jesus Christ, we live in a world that is constantly warring against us. We are not at peace. We have struggle in our world automatically because we believe in God and we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.]
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
[The Apostle Peter tells us to expect people not to like us, not to treat us fairly, and to falsely accuse us simply because we are Christians. There is something about believers in Jesus Christ and our chasing the light in life which makes those who live in darkness uncomfortable and antagonistic. More and more in our world people will “get bent out of shape” because of Christian beliefs and ways of living.]
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
[The Apostle Peter knows that all of us are under the rule of the government. For them in New Testament days, it was kings and governors who were in change. For us in the United States, we have Presidents, Congress, and Judges. Evil gets covered up. Freedoms are abused. People speak foolishly. It has always been that way. It is not right or good or proper, but it has always been that way.]
18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
[Some of the early believers in Jesus Christ were slaves. We consider that extremely unfair as Americans. We believe that God has created all people equal and it is God’s will that all men and women should live freely. Peter tells the slaves to submit to good slave masters. Notice that he also tells the slaves to submit to bad slave masters. His command to those slaves in a good situation and those slaves in a bad situation are exactly the same.] 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
[Peter recounts that Jesus endured what was unfair. We will get more into that in a few minutes.]
KEY PHRASE: Life Isn’t Fair. What are we as believers supposed to do about it?
What about us? When you think about your life, do you consider it fair? Have things happened to you that you believe are unfair? Do you believe sometimes that God has given you people, situations, sicknesses, or obstacles that are unfair?
* Maybe you have lived faithfully and loved your spouse well and you find out they have cheated on you.
* Maybe you cared for an ailing parent or child faithfully for years and now when it is time to enjoy life some, you get an ailment that prevents you from doing what you want. You are still stuck. Just differently now.
* You managed your money well and cut back on expenses, but the water heater broke anyway and all the extra money went towards that. No extras for you.
* You work hard at your job, but someone else mismanaged the business and you are out of a job through no fault of your own.
* Maybe someone was drinking while driving and hit you and now you have a scar or a hurt that gives you daily pain while the driver walks away with no injuries or issues whatsoever.
* You raised your kids. You did your best. Now your kids have messed up their lives and they expect you to take in and raise their children while they get their lives in order.
* You are a good person and want to have children. You can’t. Or your wife can’t. The person next door has more kids than they can name and it all seems unfair. Now she is pregnant again.
* You worked at the same company for 10 years and have given your all. Instead of giving you a promotion, they hire someone from the outside to be your boss. You have to train them.
We all deal with issues or people in our lives that we feel are unfair. It usually is something big and not small. We feel like life is completely unfair and we aren’t sure what God is going to do about it. When confronted with confoundingly unfair life circumstances, we can get angry or sad or upset or bewildered and those emotions seep into every corner of our hearts and our lives. That is the danger of feelings of unfairness. Those feelings can grow and dig down deep into our hearts. Unfairness can breed anger, resentment, bitterness, envy, self-destructive behaviors, and a whole host of emotions and actions which can hurt us and the people around us. That is why talking about this is so very important.
KEY PHRASE: Life Isn’t Fair. What are we as believers supposed to do about it?
As we take a look at 1 Peter 2:11-25, the Apostle Peter is following up his earlier thoughts about who believers are in Jesus Christ and he is now moving to more practical matters of faith. People who seek after an authentic relationship with God do so on the inside and on the outside in the midst of fairness and unfairness. There are action words Peter gives us that we are going to dig into today:
“Abstain from sinful desires” (verse 11)
“Live such good lives” (verse 12)
“Submit yourselves” (verse 13)
“Live as free men” (verse 16)
“Show proper respect” (verse 17)
“Love” (verse 17)
“Fear God” (verse 17)
“Honor” (verse 17)
“Submit” (verse 18)
“Bears up under the pain” (verse 19)
KEY PHRASE: Life Isn’t Fair. What are we as believers supposed to do about it?
I. LIVE LIKE JESUS NO MATTER WHAT
The Apostle Peter tells us plainly, in verse 21, “you should follow in His steps.” It should be apparent to us that in this passage Peter holds the example of Jesus Christ up to us as our example. We should follow what Jesus said and did and what he did not do and did not say in the midst of an unfair situation dealing with unfair people.
When you and I face unfairness, we are commanded to mind our mouths. We should be people whose words are not sinful and we should not stoop to the levels of the unfair people around us. Truth should be what comes from our mouths in the midst of unfairness. As believers following in the footsteps of Jesus, we are not threatening people, but rather people whose words bring about truth, peace, wisdom, and clarity.
When you and I face unfairness, we are commanded to mind our actions. It is possible when faced with unfairness to be tempted to say one thing and do another. It may seem fair or right. Following after the footsteps of Jesus described in this passage we are people who meet threats with peace, we do not retaliate, but love, and we actively seek to do the right thing and that which brings healing.
Jesus was truthful, righteous, patient, non-threatening, trusting, peaceful, and healing. This is who we need to be. This is who I need to be. This is who you need to be. Now, this is not just a way of living that we commit to and when we feel like it, give up. This is not a way of living that we talk about doing, but act a completely different way. A believer in Jesus Christ is someone who follows the path Jesus laid out at all steps and in the direction He leads… even if we do not understand and even if we do not agree. You may not agree that patience is what is needed. You may not understand why working towards a healing outcome is necessary. You may not want to walk through the truth to the other side. Yet it is what Jesus would have us do… no matter the unfair situation we are dealing with or the unfair person that we must endure.
II. IN FAITH, LEAVE IT UP TO GOD
The Apostle Peter tells us plainly, in verse 21, “you should follow in His steps.” Peter presents a pathway of enduring unfairness that means we “submit” ourselves and “bear up under the pain.” This calls us to faith-filled patience while we are enduring unfairness. As I think about Jesus, I see Him bearing up under the unfairness of friends abandoning Him, an unfair trial, and an excruciating death. Jesus did not run. Jesus did not quit. Jesus did not abandon what He knew He was supposed to do.
We find Jesus Christ leaving His friends, His trial, His death, His separation from the Father, His resurrection, His fears, His answers to unfair questions, and everything He faced in the hands of God Almighty who knows all, sees all, and is the Ultimate Judge. Jesus of Nazareth was a man of faith. His followers are to be people of faith. Our faith is that quality in our lives that should define us when things are good and fair and right and also in times when things are poor and unfair and rotten. Our faith in our God who will act rightly fights against unfairness which can breed anger, resentment, bitterness, envy, self-destructive behaviors. Our faith in God who promises to care for our needs in all situations fights against the negative emotions brought on by unfairness. Our faith in God’s perfect divine will in our lives keeps us on a path with Him in the midst of things that may get us off track.
Part of “leaving it up to God” in an unfair situation or when dealing with an unfair person is the faith that God will make things right:
Maybe God will change the situation
Maybe God will smite the person and discipline them
Maybe God will exonerate you in the eyes of people who matter
Maybe God will provide a way out
Maybe God will provide ultimate judgment at the end of time
Maybe God will simply give you strength and patience to endure
III. STOP WHINING
The Apostle Peter tells us plainly, in verse 21, “you should follow in His steps.” I have to say that no where in 1 Peter 2 does it say anywhere that we are to “stop whining.” I do however see words like “Live such good lives,” “Live as free men,” “Show proper respect,” “Love,” “Honor,” and “Submit.” No where in these verses is there a hint at complaining. No where in these verses is there a hint at whining to others because of what is happening to us.
Instead we are told to pattern ourselves after Jesus Christ. I do not see Jesus whining when He knew His disciples would desert Him. Instead He prayed for them. I do not see Jesus complaining as He waited in the Garden of Gethsemane. Instead He laid out his worry and fear and dread to God in prayer and accepted God’s will in the situation. I do not see Jesus complaining as they unjustly arrested Him. Instead I see Him accepting God’s direction and will amidst the unfairness. I do not see Jesus whining to Pilate or Herod or Caiaphas during any of the questions or mock-trials or actual trials, but rather His words reflected His total trust in God the Father.
Jesus did not react to unfair people or unfair situations with whining.
Jesus reacted to unfair people and unfair situations with prayer.
You might be asking what we as believers are supposed to DO during times when we feel unfairness is washing over our lives. I am going to take by cue from Jesus Christ and say that we are to be driven to our knees and pray diligently to God. When life is unfair or people are unfair, the most we can do is pray. We should pray about the situation. Pray for those who are unfair. Pray for our hearts to deal with it. Pray for wisdom to know what to say and do. Pray God would guard our hearts against the results of unfairness. Pray God would bring them down and discipline them. Pray God would make all things right and fair.
KEY PHRASE: Life Isn’t Fair. What are we as believers supposed to do about it?
SUMMARY
Each of us has to deal with unfair situations. Each of us has to deal with unfair people. Unfairness is something that is an active part of life since sin entered into the Garden of Eden. Minister and author Andy Stanley once said (Catalyst Conference 2011) that “Fairness ended in the Garden of Eden.” I think he is right. Do you think he is right? Even if you don’t, we can agree that unfairness creeps into our lives or is thrust upon is and we have to deal with it. As believers who are seeking after an authentic relationship with God, we must deal with unfairness as Jesus would.
Live like Jesus no matter what
In faith, leave it up to God
Stop whining
CONCLUSION IN PRAYER
