Every parent has had their child scream the accusation, “that’s not fair!” While responses might vary, many parents may say something like, “Yeah, life’s not fair.”

The Bible doesn’t talk a lot about “fairness”. Like from a child, “fair” often just means “I get what I want.” It is mired in bias. This view is immature and self-serving, but also naturally come by.

It is an extremely good thing that God is not fair, and that we don’t actually get our way. Life is unfair because Jesus took on all our sins for us. We ought to be condemned, but we are forgiven.

Instead of fairness, the Bible talks a lot about justice. God is the arbiter of justice. He is the lawmaker, the attorney, the judge, and the jury. In order to fully meet justice, He paid the price for our sins. He freely gave us a pardon while fully paying the full price Himself.

This can be a source of frustration for us. We like the illusion we are in control. We like to think we have earned what we receive. But when it comes to righteousness in God’s sight, we can never measure up. When we are weighed, we are always found wanting.

But thanks be to God that Jesus steps upon the scales along with us. In Him all requirements are met. And we are fully accepted in the eyes of God… because of Jesus. We can’t add anything. In Jesus, we have the righteousness of God.

“A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; All the weights of the bag are His concern.”
– Proverbs 16:11