THE GRACE PLACE

SCRIPTURE – Ecclesiastes 4:1"I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world."

1. WHEN LIFE IS UNFAIR, WE ASK THE QUESTION "WHY"
(Exodus 5:1-21)

We ask “Why?” because things are not working out the way we EXPECTED them to.

We ask “Why?” when our situation continues to go in the WRONG direction. (Exodus 5:1-21)

We frequently ask “Why?” because we have not been LISTENING to God. (Exodus 3:19-22)

Sometimes we ask “Why?” because we are not TRUSTING the Lord.

2. WHEN LIFE IS UNFAIR, GOD IS TRYING TO GET OUR ATTENTION. (EXODUS 6)

God wants to teach us that, in all things, He is in CONTROL.
(Exodus 6:2,6,7,8,29)

God wants to teach us to DEPEND on Him for all things.

3. THROUGH LIFE’S UNFAIR TIMES, GOD IS INTRODUCING US TO REALITY 101.

Serving God does not guarantee that life will be FAIR.
INJUSTICE is everywhere. (Ecclesiastes)

1. The GUILTY go unpunished. (Ecclesiastes 3:16 TEV)

SCRIPTURE – "I noticed that throughout the earth justice is giving way to crime and even the police courts are corrupt."

2. The WEAK are oppressed by the powerful. (Ecclesiastes 4:1 TEV)

SCRIPTURE – "Then I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were crying and no one would help them ... their oppressors had power on their side."

3. Good people are UNREWARDED. (Ecclesiastes 8:14 NIV2011)

SCRIPTURE – There is something else meaningless … righteous (men) who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked (men) who get what the righteous deserve.

4. The good guys don't always WIN. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 TEV)

SCRIPTURE – "In this world fast runners do not always win the races..."

4. UNDERSTANDING WHY GOD ALLOWS UNFAIRNESS IN THE WORLD:

God gives us the freedom to CHOOSE. (Deuteronomy 11:26)

SCRIPTURE – "…I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse..."

One day, God will BALANCE the books. (Ecclesiastes 3:17)

SCRIPTURE – "In due season, God will judge everything man does, both good and bad."

God is showing us we need a SAVIOR. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

SCRIPTURE – "There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never sins."

5. RESPONDING TO UNFAIRNESS IN GOD'S WAY:

Accept the fact that LIFE is unfair. (John 16:33)

SCRIPTURE – Jesus said, "In the world you will have trouble."

Do the RIGHT THING anyway. (Isaiah 1:17)

SCRIPTURE – "Learn to do right. See that justice is done - help those who are oppressed."

Wait for God's REWARD. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

SCRIPTURE – "These temporary troubles are winning for us a permanent reward out of all proportion to our pain."