Life is not Fair?!

 

Psalms 73

 

I.                   The Biblical Comparison (seems like it is unfair)

a.      Asaph complains about how good those that do not love God have it—Good things happen to bad people

                                                              i.      Prosperity of the wicked Psalm 73:3

                                                            ii.      Even have a comfortable death 73:4

                                                          iii.      Get away in with being proud and violent 73:6

                                                         iv.      They have more than they could wish for 73:7

                                                           v.      They openly state that they do not love God or care what he thinks 73:9

                                                         vi.      They prosper and increase 73:12

b.     The laborers felt that the householder was unfair in the wages Matthew 20:1-16

                                                              i.      Those that had worked only one hour got paid the agreed upon amount 20:9

                                                            ii.      The others supposed that they should be paid more 20:10

                                                          iii.      The owner said he was right to do with his what he wanted and that he was fair 20:15

c.     The problem is John the Baptist is in prison and feels abandoned—bad things happen to good people Luke 7:19-22

                                                              i.      Jesus is doing his ministry and seems unconcerned about John

                                                            ii.      John who announced his coming is in prison

                                                          iii.      Jesus answer seems to be isn’t the ministry going well 7:22

 

II.                The Conflict in our hearts (is it unfair)

a.      Some people drink and smoke all their life and never get cancer

b.     Some have one moment of indiscretion and get caught while others never get caught

c.     Some people have everything and I have nothing

d.     I work hard and can’t seem to get ahead and others are lazy and it all goes well for them

e.      I am a good parent and yet my children have caused me so much trouble

f.       Good people get cancer even small children

g.     Parents get divorced and hurt children

h.     Kids die in war or because of a drunken driver

i.        I tried to serve God and it didn’t work out

j.        God took my children or parents in death and it isn’t fair

k.     She was born with all the looks or brains

l.        He can eat anything and doesn’t gain weight, I look at it and gain weight

 

III.             The conclusion Psalm 73:13-28

a.      We develop unrealistic expectations 73:13-16

                                                              i.      It is really not about you 73:21-23

                                                            ii.      Unrealistic expectations set you up for disappointment

                                                          iii.      When we get less than we expect it hurts us

b.     We were never promised a life without problems

c.     It is not what happens to you it is what you do with it

d.     The adversity and unfair life that one finds causes him to stretch and become all while others use it as an excuse

e.      Adversity is the mother of invention

f.       Rather than getting bitter over what seems unfair why not allow God to use it to mould you into what He wants you to be

g.     Strength is formed in difficulty and weakness comes through softness

h.     There is a God in Heaven 73:17

i.        It will all be made right some day

                                                              i.      It will all be gone in one minute 73:19

                                                            ii.      They live in a slippery place 73:18

                                                          iii.      They will be utterly consumed with terrors 73:19

 

IV.            The commitment that is called for (how do I deal with it)

a.      Learn the lessons that God has for me at this stage of my life 73:24

b.     Learn to be satisfied and content where God has me 73:26

c.     Learn to trust God to work in my life 73:28

d.     Change my expectations

                                                              i.      Look for direction

                                                            ii.      Look for blessing

                                                          iii.      See that finding life is about giving it all to Him

e.      Come to know God and have a personal relationship with Him