Between the Lines

Daily Bible study excerpts from my book: Looking for Contentment in All the Wrong Places 

Finding Contentment in an “unfair” world 

“Life just isn’t fair!”  We hear that a lot and it is true.  We sacrifice contentment when we concern ourselves about fairness in everything.  Seeking “fairness” can show contempt for others and pity for ourselves.  What is it in our lives that seems to make things unfair?  Let us consider one of Jesus’ parables. 

Matthew 20:1-16

Consider the questions in this parable.  Underline them

• :6 ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’
• :13 ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?
• :15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?
• :15 is your eye envious because I am generous?

What wage did the landowner agree to pay each group? Hi-lite

• :2 denarius
• :9 denarius
• :13 denarius

Did everyone receive the wage that was promised to them? Put brackets around

• :13 did you not agree with me for a denarius?

Who complained?

• :10 “When those hired first came”
• :11 “They grumbled”

You can almost hear those who were hired first saying, “It’s not fair!”  They felt that because they had worked longer they should be paid more, and yet, they received exactly what was agreed upon.  If they had not known what wage those last to be hired received, would they have responded differently?  Comparing ourselves to others is usually not helpful and can cause discontentment.  When we consider our own selves and what God has promised us, we should be happy with the results.

Psalm 37:1-11

Hi-lite Commands – the Don’ts

• :1 Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity
• :7 do not fret because of him who prospers
• :8 cease from anger, forsake wrath, do not fret

Hi-lite in another color – the Dos

• :3 Trust, do good, dwell, feed
• :4 delight yourself
• :5 commit, trust
• :7 rest in the Lord, wait patiently

Put brackets around what happens to wicked evildoers.

• :2 they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb
• :9 For evildoers shall be cut off
• :10 the wicked shall be no more

Underline what God does for the righteous:

• :4 He shall give you the desires of your heart
• :5 He shall bring it to pass
• :6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday
• :9 those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth
• :11 the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

To fret means to be constantly anxious or worried.  Fretting about the “why the wicked prosper” is detrimental to our contentment.  Measuring ourselves with the wicked really doesn’t even make sense!  God has told us what will happen to them:  “you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more: (vs 10).

Psalm 73 

What happens to Asaph (the writer of this Psalm)?

Underline

• :2 my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. 

Why?

• :3 For I was envious

Asaph tells us why he is envious of the wicked, those who do not love God

Hilite how the wicked appear to Asaph

• :3 prosperity of the wicked. 
• :4 no pangs in their death, their strength is firm
• :5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. 
• :7 eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. 
• :8 scoff and speak wickedly, speak loftily
• :9 set their mouth against the heavens
• :12 are always at ease; They increase in riches. 

Put parentheses around the questions (always important to understanding the passage)

The wicked asks:

• :11 (How does God know?), (Is there knowledge in the Most High?)

The righteous asks:

• :25 (Whom have I in heaven but You?)

In the margin connect verses 13-15 with a bracket.  Write “self-pity” in the  margin.

Where does Asaph go to finally find understanding?

• Hi-lite in another color verses 16 and 17.

Underline

• :17 “then I understood their end”

Circle the words describing what happens to the wicked

• :18 slippery places, cast them down, destruction
• :19 desolation, consumed with terrors
• :20 You shall despise their image
• :27 perish, destroyed

HI-lite in yet another color the conclusion of Asaph’s understanding:

• :23 I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand
• :24 You will guide me, receive me to glory
• :25 there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 
• :26 God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
• :28 it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,

When Asaph finally turns his “spiritual eyes” on God and turns away from the evildoers, he finds contentment.  Drawing near to God and putting his trust in Him, Asaph finds peace and contentment.  It is hard not to watch the wicked people of this world seemingly prosper.  We must keep our eyes on our Father who will always give us what we need.              

Envy plays a part in our perception of what is fair.

Consider Rachel and Leah.  Each had what the other wanted and neither one was happy. Rachel could have found contentment if she had put her trust in God, Leah could have found contentment in being thankful for the children God gave to her.

Genesis 29:30 – 30:1 

Hi-lite Leah’s sorrowful words.

• :32 Now therefore, my husband will love me.” 
• :33 Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved
• :34 Now this time my husband will become attached to me,

Hi-lite in another color Rachel’s words

• :1 Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!” 

If anyone had a true reason to say “It’s not fair”, it was Christ our Lord. He was accused, arrested and killed for something He did not do, yet not one whimper of self-pity came from His mouth.  On the cross, His prayer and thoughts were not on Himself but on whom? (Luke 23:34)             

When we understand that ultimately “We all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross” (Johnny Ramsey), we should not be concerned with having our “fair” share because we are all equal there, in the things that matter most. 

Ezekiel 18:25-32

The men of Israel accused God of not being fair (KJV “equal”, ESV “just”)  God answers them  with a question:

Hi-lite:

• :25 is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 
• :29 is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? 
• :31 For why should you die, O house of Israel? 

Circle

• :30 I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways

Underline what one must do to be right with God:

• :30 repent, turn
• :31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit
• :32 turn and live

Life is not fair!  The sooner we come to terms with that reality, the more content we will be.  Let us take our eyes off of what others have and look to our Heavenly Father who gives us perfect gifts. 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

Acts 14:17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”