Life’s Perceived Unfairness: Trusting God Beyond the Comparison
Life often feels like a balancing act, weighed down by perceived injustices. Whether it’s in our personal lives, workplaces, or even within the church, we can’t help but notice when things seem unfair. Why does one person receive more while another seemingly less? This tension is vividly illustrated in Numbers 7:1-9, where God directs Moses to distribute resources among the Levites, but with a twist that challenges our human understanding of fairness.
The Burden of Perceived Inequality
The story of the Kohathites is a prime example. As Moses distributed wagons and oxen to the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle, the sons of Gershon and Merari received their fair share—two wagons and four oxen, and four wagons and eight oxen, respectively. But to the sons of Kohath? None. They were left to carry their burdens on their shoulders.
From our perspective, this seems unfair, an unjust burden placed on them. But God’s distribution was not arbitrary. Each group received according to their service.
The Kohathites were entrusted with carrying the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle—the Ark of the Covenant, the Menorah, the Table of Shewbread. These holy items were not meant to be casually transported on wagons. They required personal care and a close connection, shouldered by those chosen for this sacred task.
The Trap of Comparison
Much like children eyeing their parents' plates, thinking their share is always better, we too often fall into the trap of comparison. It’s easy to glance at others’ lives and feel shortchanged. But comparison is a thief of joy and a roadblock to spiritual growth.
2 Corinthians 10:12 warns us against this, saying, “But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
This isn’t just about material possessions or status—it’s about trusting that God’s plan for our lives is uniquely tailored. Our personal journey, with its burdens and blessings, is part of a divine design.
Trusting God’s Unique Plan
To accuse God of unfairness is to question His wisdom and love for us. It suggests a lack of trust in His providence. But our God is not a distant, impersonal deity. He is deeply personal, knowing even the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7) and being touched by our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15).
The Kohathites’ burden was heavy, but it was also a privilege. They carried the very presence of God. Sometimes, what we perceive as an unfair burden is, in fact, a unique calling, an opportunity to carry something sacred in our lives.
The Beauty of Inequality
The Gospel itself is an affront to our sense of fairness. Grace, by its very nature, is undeserved. How can someone who comes to faith late in life receive the same reward as one who has served for decades? Yet, this is the beauty of God’s grace—it’s lavish and generous, not meted out based on human concepts of fairness.
In Matthew 20:1-14, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Those hired at the last hour received the same wage as those who worked all day. To our human minds, this seems unjust. But God’s generosity defies our logic. He gives us what we need, not what we think we deserve.
Finding Contentment in Our Portion
We often feel like the Kohathites, shouldering heavy burdens while others seem to glide through life with ease. But Psalm 73:26 reminds us, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
When we focus on what others have, we lose sight of the fact that God is our ultimate portion. He is enough!
Life’s perceived unfairness is a test of our trust in God. Can we accept His plan for us, even when it seems unequal? Can we rejoice in another’s blessing without envy?
Walking by Faith, Not Sight
Faith is the antidote to our struggles with fairness. Romans 8:28 assures us that “all things work together for good” for those who love God. This doesn’t mean life will always make sense or seem fair, but it does mean we can trust in God’s overarching plan.
The sons of Kohath carried their sacred burden without complaint. They bore the Ark of the Covenant, not because it was easy, but because it was their calling. In our lives, the heaviest burdens often lead to the deepest revelations of God’s character and grace.
As the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” beautifully declares, peace comes not from life’s fairness but from trusting God’s sovereignty. Whether we’re bearing burdens on our shoulders or watching others receive seemingly more, we can rest in the knowledge that God is just and His grace is sufficient.
Let us lay down our comparisons and embrace our unique calling. The road may be uneven, the burdens heavy, but through it all, God is with us, shaping us for His glory.