Why is Life Not Fair?
Life is not fair. This is a universal truth that everyone experiences at some point. Some people seem to have it all – good health, loving family, financial security, career success. Meanwhile, others struggle through sickness, loneliness, poverty, and failure. Why does life seem to bless some while cursing others? As Christians, what does the Bible say about the unfairness of life?
To start, we must understand that fairness is not promised in this fallen world. When Adam and Eve sinned, sin entered creation and corrupted everything. The world became imperfect, and unfairness exists because of humankind’s rebellion against God (Genesis 3:14-19). We want life to be fair according to our standards, but our standards often ignore God’s supreme authority and wisdom. The truth is, we deserve nothing good from God. Even our next breath is an undeserved gift. Fairness does not dictate how God distributes gifts and blessings.
While unfairness exists, God has not left us without hope. The Bible’s theme is God reconciling the world to Himself through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). By taking on flesh, dying for our sins, and rising victorious over death, Jesus Christ redeems us from the curse of sin. He promises to right every wrong and make all things new (Revelation 21:5). God cares deeply about injustice and “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:10).
Believers are called to trust God’s sovereignty and follow Christ’s example of humbly obeying God amid unfair circumstances. We do this by prayerfully surrendering our desires for the Lord’s will, while also doing good deeds that glorify God (Matthew 5:16). God promises to use all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). The Bible also commands us to help people in need and “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8-9).
As Christians, our attitude towards unfairness should reflect God’s mercy and seek justice. Getting bitter only hurts us, while extending grace and kindness can point others to God. We can rejoice that better days are coming when God will rule perfectly. No injustice will exist in His new creation, and He will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). For now, we are called to trust the Lord and share the hope of the gospel.
Ultimately, we do not know all the reasons God allows unfairness. His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). But He does promise to work all things for our eternal good if we love Him. We must remember that our real home is in heaven where we will rejoice forevermore. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).
Life is not fair because we live in a fallen, sinful world. The good news is that God sent Jesus so that we could have forgiveness and eternal life in spite of sin’s curse. He promises to make all things new for those who trust in Christ. Our trials on earth will result in greater glory in heaven if we cling to God in faith. We are called to serve others out of love, knowing God sees all and will ultimately make all things right. Even when unfairness tempts us to grow bitter, we can respond with humility, grace and hope through the power of Christ in us.
Some common questions arise when we face the unfairness of life:
Why do bad things happen to good people?
The truth is no one is truly “good” according to God’s standard of holiness (Romans 3:10). We are all sinners deserving death, but God gives us life and blessings despite our sin through His grace in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10). That said, suffering is never God’s desire for people. He grieves when tragedy strikes (John 11:35). The sinful, fallen state of creation means bad things will happen in this imperfect world. But God promises to bring beauty from ashes for those who love Him (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Why do some people suffer more than others?
We cannot fully understand or discern why certain people suffer more than others in this life. God’s ways and thoughts are infinitely above ours. He promises to use all trials for our eternal good if we belong to Him, but even these painful experiences remain a mystery to us (Romans 8:28). However, we can trust His character – though His ways confuse us, God is always loving, just, wise and faithful. He will make all things right in due time (Romans 12:19).
Does God cause suffering?
God does not cause evil, but He does allow evil and suffering to occur. This reflects His sovereignty and holiness. He has morally sufficient reasons for allowing trials, even when we cannot grasp them. We do know suffering can produce growth in godliness, turn our eyes to eternity, make us lean on God, and enable us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). God can and does redeem suffering for His glory and our ultimate good.
If God is good, why doesn’t He stop injustice?
God hates evil, and the day will come when He eradicates it forever (Revelation 21:4). For now, God’s mercy and patience give people a chance to repent (2 Peter 3:8-10). He also respects human free will, which enables sin and suffering. God permits injustices for good purposes we cannot yet discern. But He promises to avenge the oppressed and bring perfect justice in due time (Luke 18:7-8). As believers, we are called to wait patiently and trust God amid life’s unfairness and corruption.
How should Christians respond to unfair treatment?
The Bible instructs us not to retaliate or seek revenge when treated unfairly (Romans 12:17-21). Instead, we follow Jesus’ example and entrust ourselves to God, who will judge justly (1 Peter 2:21-23). We overcome evil with good, showing extraordinary love and grace (Matthew 5:38-48). Believers look ahead to a time when God will right every wrong. We also pray for those who harm us, remembering they are still made in God’s image and Christ died to redeem them.
Does human free will cause unfairness?
Yes, human sin and misuse of free will introduced suffering and unfairness into God’s good creation. From the beginning, God gave people free will so we could genuinely love and obey Him. But Adam and Eve abused this freedom and rebelled, resulting in calamity, injustice and hardship (Genesis 3:16-19). However, God did not abandon us. He uses free will to make us share in bringing His redemption through faith in Christ (John 3:16). Through Him, believers are being restored to our original purpose – worshipping and enjoying God forever.
Why do some people seem to “have it all” in life?
Earthly blessings do not automatically equate to God’s approval or eternal reward. Some wicked people temporarily prosper while many believers experience poverty and trials. Jesus reminds us the wealthy face great struggles with their possessions and those who have much in this life often lack real meaning and purpose (Mark 4:18-19). While envy comes naturally, Christians must learn godly contentment amid any circumstance, finding our worth in Christ alone (Philippians 4:10-13). The richest child of God possesses far more than those without Christ.
Why do I experience seasons of profound loss and grief?
Due to the Fall’s curse, loss and grief plague the human experience. But Scripture says God collects all our tears in a bottle and will one day wipe them away forever (Psalm 56:8; Revelation 21:4). He uses grief to refine us into His image and help us cling tightly to the eternal hope we have in Christ. Loss painfully tears away temporary idols and reminds us that this fallen world is not our home. God promises to be present in our deepest grief and darkest valley (Psalm 23:4). We can rest knowing that He works all things for good – even grief – to make us like Christ (Romans 8:29).
Why does death still exist if Jesus rose victorious?
Physical death’s ongoing presence reminds us of sin’s monumental cost. It entered the world through human rebellion and Christ alone could pay the penalty and defeat its power (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Jesus resurrection secured eternal life for all who believe. While death’s sting remains for now, Christians confess Christ as Lord over death and its Author has swallowed it up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). For those in Christ, death simply ushers us into His glorious presence forevermore. One day, God will abolish death and renew all things perfectly (Revelation 21:4).
How should we measure fairness during our lives on earth?
We must reject the world’s self-focused standards of fairness and see life from an eternal perspective. Scripture says that all who desire godliness and live in Christ will endure persecution and trials (John 15:18-20, 2 Timothy 3:12). God’s ways confound human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). But we can trust the goodness, justice and unfailing love that define His nature. He sees all and His judgments are true and righteous (Revelation 19:1-2). Life on earth is fleeting, so we must invest our time and energy in building God’s eternal Kingdom. Living this way protects us from growing bitter when treated unfairly.
What Bible passages bring hope when life feels unfair?
Many Scriptures comfort and encourage us when confronted with life’s unfairness and emptiness:
Psalm 73 – Reminds us that envy and resentment only lead to pain. Those who reject God face eternal judgment regardless of earthly prosperity. But we always have God’s presence and eternal hope.
Matthew 5:10-12 – Jesus pronounces blessings and reward for those unjustly persecuted because of Him. Their trials will reap eternal dividends.
John 16:33 – In Christ, we can have peace amid trouble. He has overcome this unjust world.
Romans 8:18 – Current sufferings pale in comparison to the glory to be revealed in us. We can endure present trials knowing unspeakable joy waits.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – We must fix our eyes not on earthly woes but heavenly reality. Our momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory.
James 1:2-4 – When life feels unfair, our faith can grow stronger. God uses trials to develop Christlike perseverance and maturity.
1 Peter 5:6-7 – At all times, we must humble ourselves under God’s sovereign hand, entrusting all our cares to Him.
Revelation 21:3-5 – A day is coming when God Himself will dwell with us and make everything new. All tears, death and grief will vanish forever.
How does the gospel of Jesus Christ offer hope when life feels unfair?
The gospel reminds us that God perfectly resolved life’s supreme unfairness – sin – through Christ’s incarnation, sinless life, sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. All who believe in Him are reconciled to God, adopted as cherished children and given eternal life. This hopeless world is now filled with living hope because Jesus’ tomb is empty. No matter how unfair this life becomes, Christians rest securely in God’s perfect love demonstrated though the gospel (Romans 5:6-11, Romans 8:31-39). The Holy Spirit empowers us to trust God, obey His commands and testify to His redeeming grace that will one day right every wrong.
God hates injustice even more than we do. His heart breaks over the effects of sin in His creation (Genesis 6:5-6; Psalm 7:11). By dying for sinners, Jesus did not eliminate unfairness. But He did expose and defeat sin’s power over human hearts. For those who receive His salvation, He promises to renew all things and wipe every tear. We can rejoice knowing God makes all things beautiful in due time for those who trust Him. When life feels unfair, cling to the hope of the cross. Let God’s love and justice – not earthly circumstance – define your life.
Some additional principles for Christians to remember when confronted with unfair treatment:
– Pray for discernment to detect potential wrong responses like resentment or seeking personal vengeance. These make us more like the world.
– Remember that other people also face unfair situations. How we respond can either push them from God or point them to Him.
– Do not expect fairness from a fallen world. But do seek to embody the goodness and justice of Christ.
– Entrust all desires for justice to God, who alone is the perfect judge. He sees all and will make the ultimate verdict.
– Check motives frequently. Seek to honor and obey God, not prove your own worth or punish offenders.
– When treated unjustly, consciously rely on the Holy Spirit’s presence to respond with grace, not anger.
– Refuse to let unfair treatment compromise godly behavior and testimony. How we respond is more crucial than what was done to us.
– Forgive others as God forgives us in Christ (Colossians 3:13). This breaks any hold unforgiveness gains over us.
– Persevere in doing good through the enabling strength of Christ who sustains us (Galatians 6:9, Philippians 4:13).
Life often feels unfair, but God specializes in redeeming what seems impossible or hopeless. When we consider the cross, we cannot deny His ability to bring purpose from pain and infuse peace into the most unjust situations. As His children, we wait eagerly for the day when God restores all things to perfect righteousness. Until then, we can cling to Him in faith, knowing our trials will result in unspeakable glory for those who love Him. The gospel offers the sure hope that no matter how unjust this world becomes, eternal joy awaits all those who trust in Christ. Our God reigns, and one day, the world will fully see how powerful and good He is. Maranatha!
