Favor Ain't Fair!

"Favor ain't fair, honey!" I can hear the radical believers chanting as they run around the church! The excitement is spurred by a hope and longing for God to 'rain down' His favor on their lives. You know, favor...that brand new car; that promotion at their job; that increase in salary or "blessing of a house"! Something to bring them out of the 'lowly' state they were once in. Something to pacify the longing for 'things' in our lives and somehow fill the void thus eliminating our problems. Favor-also known as "blessing".

After all, Christians aren't supposed to struggle, go without, or be anything but financially well off and wealthy, right? And while YOU may be doing well, I'm praying God's favor on MY life; for if He so chooses to rain down said blessings on me in this season (and somehow decide not to do so for you)...well..."Honey, favor ain't fair!" (boastfully said). *shaking my head* FALSE!!!

A Pastor, Friend opened up the latter portion of 1 Peter 2 and I noticed how God's favor was lavished freely on those who committed themselves to suffering.

• Your government, leaders, bosses, administrators, and authorities - regardless of how 'off the chain' they may behave...do what's right, don't retaliate and what's more.. HONOR THEM!
• Don't just follow them if they're good...even if they're unreasonable and partial (unfair)...HONOR THEM!!
• When you finally do everything right and you're unjustly blamed for doing something wrong...STILL HONOR THEM!

You see, no one wants to run around church and scream and shout for unfair punishment. No one wants to boast about how they're boss has a crude tongue and promotes everyone else BUT them! Who wants to brag about how they uphold integrity every time they clock in, while their co-worker is stealing from 'the Man' and yet THEY get docked? But Matthew 5:1-12 calls "Blessed" those who aren't exactly receiving these "things". So what IS blessed after all?

But in this passage God says you find favor with Him when you suffer despite doing what's right and endure this type of suffering, patiently! This is the favor He longs to give; one accompanied by suffering for His sake. Things might not even be attached to this favor. This favor may not yield physical or tangible results.

So then, are the things He allows us to attain blessings or burdens? Are they allowed with the intention of us sharing with others and with the hope that they won't draw us farther from Him? Do they give us peace or a sense of comfort? Can we thank God for them? Yes, but should we call it favor or blessings? I'm not so sure; for what about those Christians who are suffering for His Name's sake? Those in other countries who are faithful, yet their reward isn't the wealth as the world sees it?

So, is favor really fair? Well maybe not in the since that many view it, but it seems that it isn't fair that God would allow us to go through suffering before He bestows favor on us. But in all fairness, the fact that we get to share in His suffering IS IN FACT, favor. And aside from that, GOD IS a fair/just God. He isn't partial (doesn't play favorites). So to Him, favor is on HIS terms...and that's fair!