"It just isn't fair! I worked all my life and now this! I can't even walk without a walker or cane because of the pain!" 

Ah, yes, one of those times when you keep your mouth shut and listen. There is nothing you can say that will help the frustration and there are a lot of things you can say that will just add to the frustration. So, you listen. A person, still very independent, but now feeling the struggles of growing older.

You could talk about your own experiences, but they don't want to hear about your pain. You could say it will all be OK, but that isn't true. You could get philosophical and say that this must come to pass, but that might get you slapped. Nothing you can say. Of course, I am a pastor, so I have all the answers straight from the Word, except that I don't have all the answers and what I do have is not comforting.

People during the time of Christ live maybe 45-50 years. By the time you hit 40 (if you hadn't already been made a partaker of one of the unpleasant ways to die) you were getting old. Try and comfort someone with that information. So, you listen. Except that in this case the question came, "Doesn't your Bible say something about God being fair to us when we live a good life?" 

First, that is an indication that the person doesn't read their own Bible. The Bible says we will suffer, we will struggle, we will face dark days. 'Fairness' is not a huge issue in the Bible. When we sin, we are shaming our Savior. He paid a huge sacrifice, of which only His horrible death was just a part. He who knew no sin became sin for us. If God were fair, we would die when we sinned our first sin after our salvation. And yet, we live on. 

But what does the Bible say about fairness?

Very, very little, actually. 

Colossians 4:1 is just about the only place we find 'fairness.' It may be inferred elsewhere, but when we infer something in the Bible, we are on shaky ground. The verse says, Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Yeah, well, that really doesn't help the lady in question. But, maybe, if you turn it and shape it a little, it can work. Maybe...... Except the rest of the paragraph says this, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with prayer and thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison.

You see, God isn't talking His fairness toward us, but rather the wealthy toward those who work for them. And Paul is also giving them an extra burden. Does that seem, well, fair? Not really, at least in the way we understand 'fairness.' So maybe God's understanding differs from our understanding. And God's understanding would have to be right.

This begs the question then; what about our sufferings, pain and frustrations? Well, pray about it. We are supposed to pray about everything. But then Paul says this in Philippians 4:10-13; I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Paul is not saying that God will be 'fair' to the faithful. Who could be more faithful than Paul? But Paul is saying that through Christ, he can do all things in spite of the circumstance.

Now, let's review. The Bible does not say that God will pave the way for the faithful through this earth. We are going to be hit with everything, and often more, than the worldly person. The difference is that we have the strength to overcome even though we are beset with all sorts of problems. And when we do overcome, we are lifting the name of Jesus.

So, what is fair? Depends. Do we want God's strength to overcome, or do we want our strength to fail? Shouldn't be a hard choice.