In this chapter we will continue to address God's distributive justice. We know that it is true that "all men are created equal" so far as political or civil rights go. Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But, on the other hand, it may also be affirmed that everyone is not born equal in every respect. How many times have people said “Life is not fair”? Some people are born with physical defects, such as blindness, deafness, etc. Some are born with natural gifts and talents in the arts. Some seem to be born with better genes. Why does God not keep this from happening? Why do some people have better "luck," to use a common expression, than do others? Why are some people born with a silver spoon in their mouths and others are born into poverty? How is that fair? Why are some more "fortunate" than others?
The word "fortune" or "fortunate" was in ancient times associated with the Greek goddess Tyche, goddess of luck, fortune, and chance, and the Roman equivalent of Tyche is Fortuna. Many Greeks and Romans sought luck and good fortune from the goddess. Does the bible teach luck, chance, and fortune? Does it teach "fate"? Got Questions (See here) says this about luck and chance (emphasis mine):
"The main question is, do things happen by chance? If they do, then one can speak of someone being lucky or unlucky. But if they do not happen by chance, then it is inappropriate to use those terms. Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 states, “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” Much of what Ecclesiastes shares is from the perspective of a person who looks at life on earth without God, or life “under the sun.” From such a perspective—leaving God out of the picture—there seems to be good luck and bad luck."
But, we cannot leave God out of the picture. Said the wise Solomon: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." (Prov. 16: 33 kjv) If the roll of the dice is determined by God, then all is determined. Nothing happens by luck, fate, chance, or happenstance. What seems to us to be serendipitous is not as it seems. Behind the seemingly random is God's providence. The Bible consistently attributes the unfolding of events to God's providence rather than random chance. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus illustrates God's intimate involvement in creation and providence, saying, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." We might well call this meticulous providence. Not a bird falls to the ground apart from God's will? God has determined how many hairs are on my head?
Of course, though God's will and providence are primary causes of all things, this fact does not exclude what are called "second causes," or instrumental causes. So, we may say that a man may be bald because of something he has done, or from genes, and they would be second causes. We are born or created the way God determined. Logic alone tells us that if God could prevent people from being born with a handicap, and chooses not to prevent it, then he willed it.
All Good are Gifts of God
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." (Jam. 1: 17 nkjv)
"John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." (John 3: 27 nkjv)
These texts affirm that every good thing that anyone possesses or experiences comes from God, they being his gifts. So, does God give to all equally? And, if he doesn't, is that just and fair? It is an observable and undeniable fact that all do not enjoy equal good in life. This being true, we must admit that it is because God gives more good gifts to some than he does to others. The next question is why? On what basis does God make his decision to give greater good things and more blessings to one than to another? Does God discriminate or show partiality?
As we will see, some people have more good things because some divine gifts come with conditions. God says "do this and you will be blessed" and those who do those things are blessed and those who do not are not blessed. Of course, that is not true of every gift or blessing, for some are given unconditionally. Another question concerns whether God is to be thanked and credited for one person choosing to do what God says. Does anyone merit God's blessings and gifts? Is choosing to obey God a good thing? Obviously yes. Then that choice is itself a gift from God. This brings us to ask another question. Is God then to be blamed for not blessing another to make the right choices for obtaining other blessings and gifts? Let us look at some scripture that will help us answer these questions.
"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (I Cor. 4: 7 kjv)
Dr. Albert Barnes in his commentary wrote these excellent comments on this text:
"For who maketh... - This verse contains a reason for what Paul had just said; and the reason is, that all that any of them possessed had been derived from God, and no endowments whatever, which they had, could be laid as the foundation for self-congratulation and boasting. The apostle here doubtless has in his eye the teachers in the church of Corinth, and intends to show them that there was no occasion of pride or to assume pre-eminence. As all that they possessed had been given of God, it could not be the occasion of boasting or self-confidence."
"To differ from another - Who has separated you from another; or who has made you superior to others. This may refer to everything in which one was superior to others, or distinguished from them. The apostle doubtless has reference to those attainments in piety, talents, or knowledge by which one teacher was more eminent than others. But the same question may be applied to native endowments of mind; to opportunities of education; to the arrangements by which one rises in the world; to health; to property; to piety; to eminence and usefulness in the church. It is God who makes one, in any of these respects, to differ from others; and it is especially true in regard to personal piety. Had not God interfered and made a difference, all would have remained alike under sin. The race would have together rejected his mercy; and it is only by his distinguishing love that any are brought to believe and be saved."
The reason why no one can boast or brag about his superiority is because he would not be superior had God not made the difference by his blessing. There is no room for merit in the larger view of things. This is why Christians do not say "good luck" but rather say "God bless you."
Can we reason as do some and say "if God is the reason why I am different, then there is no need for me to strive to be better"? Does God making the differences in men logically necessitate that men themselves do not make themselves different? Or, to try to do so? Answer: no. The reason is because many things in the bible are said to be both the result of God's doing and of men's doing. The one does not exclude the other. The bible gives numerous examples of this, but I will give one.
In the book of Exodus, we are told that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. But, we are also told that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Is this a contraction? Or, can they not both be true? Three times Yahweh declares that he will harden Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 4:21; 7:3; 14:4). Three times we are told that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Ex. 8:15; 8:32; 9:34). The question then becomes in what sense each is a cause of the heart being hardened. Is Pharaoh the first cause and God the secondary or instrumental cause? Or vise versa? It seems to me to be quite clear that God is the first cause. He does not play "second fiddle" in his providence.
Barnes continued:
"Why dost thou glory... - Why dost thou boast as if it were the result of your own toil, skill or endeavor. This is not designed to discourage human exertion; but to discourage a spirit of vain-glory and boasting. A man who makes the most painful and faithful effort to obtain anything good, will, if successful, trace his success to God. He will still feel that it is God who gave him the disposition, the time, the strength, the success. And he will be grateful that he was enabled to make the effort; not vain, or proud, or boastful, because that he was successful. This passage states a general doctrine, that the reason why one man differs from another is to be traced to God; and that this fact should repress all boasting and glorying, and produce true humility in the minds of Christians. It may be observed, however, that it is as true of intellectual rank, of health, of wealth, of food, of raiment, of liberty, of peace, as it is of religion, that all come from God; and as this fact which is so obvious and well known, does not repress the exertions of people to preserve their health and to obtain property, so it should not repress their exertions to obtain salvation. God governs the world on the same good principles everywhere; and the fact that he is the source of all blessings, should not operate to discourage, but should prompt to human effort. The hope of his aid and blessing is the only ground of encouragement in any undertaking."
So, if God is the reason why people are different, the question then arises as to whether this is just and fair. That God does discriminate in the giving of gifts, is evident in the bible and from observing the world. That God has the sovereign right and power to do this is also evident in the same way. The only question that remains is whether God is just in so discriminating.
We must acknowledge that even among men it is not judged to be a case of injustice or unfairness for a giver of good things to give something to one person and not to another. Christmas time is a time of giving gifts. Do all Christmas givers give the same gifts to everyone involved in the gift-giving, or to everyone in the world? No. Do they think they are being unfair if they only give gifts to some and not to others? Do they think that they are being unjust to give a better gift to one than to another? No. Well, cannot God do the same? Notice these words of Jude, the Lord's brother:
"And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." (Jude 1: 22-23 nkjv)
Jude is saying that we should "make a distinction" or discriminate in the way we treat those in need or who are in a pitiful condition. In the context this is said in regard to apostates and false teachers. But, the principle is true in many other contexts. Think of all the homeless beggars and drug addicts. Many of them are panhandlers. When they ask for money should we not discriminate as to whether we give them money or do something else? If we are fairly sure that they are going to use the money for illicit drugs, should we not refuse to give them money? If they are hungry, should we not rather give them food?
Success is of the Lord
"Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain." (Psa. 127: 1 nkjv)
"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD." (Prov. 21: 31 esv)
These verses tell us that success is of the Lord. That being true, people might respond by saying that God must be blamed for failure. That is, failure results from God not giving success. This is true indirectly. The direct cause of failure is because a person does things that bring failure. We could apply the same logic in other ways. A person could argue that he is ill because the Lord has not healed him. But, that would be true only indirectly. But it is still true that unless God gives success that there will be none. This being true, God gets all the credit for anyone's success, though he is not responsible for anyone's failures.
The bible says "The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made them both." (Prov. 20: 12 nkjv) The ability to see and to hear are gifts of God. So, why do some not have those gifts when born? Did God not give them those gifts? We must say yes, even though many will be reluctant to admit such a fact, believing that it paints God in a bad light. Is God unjust because he makes some people blind at birth by not giving them the ability to see? No, because God is under no obligation to give any of his creatures such a gift, especially sinful and rebellious creatures. All sinful and condemned sinners are owed nothing good, having forfeited any rights to good. Therefore, any good that sinful creatures are given by God are acts of mercy and compassion; And, all mercy shown is at the discretion of God and no one is entitled to it.
When the Lord spoke to Moses and told him to go and speak to Pharaoh, Moses began to complain that he was not able to speak well and the Lord's response to him is quite enlightening. Notice the words of God to him:
"So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?" (Exo. 4: 11 nkjv)
Some Christians interpret these words by saying that "God made the people who are blind but He did not make them blind." However, that is not what the text is saying. Notice some other translations of the text:
"The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (niv)
"Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (esv)
"But the LORD said to him, “Who has made the human mouth? Or who makes anyone unable to speak or deaf, or able to see or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (nasb)
So, how does God make people deaf, blind, or mute? Is it not because God did not give them those gifts or gave them and then took them away? Is that unjust? Obviously not for all that God does is just. Further, as previously observed, God is under no obligation to give to all these gifts. If he does so, it is an act of mercy and grace, what is undeserved. And, when it comes to showing mercy, God says "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." (Exo. 33: 19; Rom. 9: 15) Mercy that is deserved is not mercy.
We have a similar text in the proverbs of Solomon who said: "The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all." (Prov. 22: 2 nkjv) No one doubts that the rich and the poor are both God's creatures. So, that is obviously not what Solomon is saying. Rather, he is saying that whether a man is rich or poor is of the Lord's doing. Wrote John Gill in his commentary on this text:
"the Lord is the Maker of them all: not only as men, but as rich men and poor men; God gives riches to whom he pleases, and poverty to whom he pleases; riches and poverty are according to the order of divine Providence; and he can and does change scenes at his pleasure; wherefore the rich should consider themselves as dependent on him, and not despise and crush the poor; and the poor should be content with their state, as being allotted to them by the Lord, who can alter it when he thinks fit."
Again, we must say that God's making men either poor or rich does not exclude men themselves making themselves either rich or poor. But, we must also always remember that success is of the Lord, and keep in mind the words of Moses who said: “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth" (Deut. 8: 18 nkjv).
Many goods are available to his creatures but are conditioned upon people doing their part in acquiring those goods. Of course, that is not true in regard to every good thing that God gives or makes available to his creatures. Wrote Solomon:
"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God." (Eccl. 2: 26 kjv)
These words might seem to contradict what we observed previously about how God blesses the wicked with material gain and fewer troubles in life because he knows that they will die lost and spend eternity in hell and so God shows them this kindness. But, they do not. God does promise to bless those who in their lives live according to his precepts and to deny blessings to those who do not. Yet, a lost man will still enjoy more in this life than a saved man, although even that lost man will often lose blessings for his disobedience to the Lord. The same is true with saved people. Even though they are generally poor and have more trials than do the wicked, yet that does not mean that they will not be more blessed in becoming God's servants. Keep in mind that we are not merely talking about wealth, but about other gifts that are priceless, such as joy and peace, contentment, wisdom and knowledge of God, etc. Wrote Mark:
"Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10: 28-30 nkjv)
Becoming a Christian does not instantly bring wealth. However, the bible does teach Christians on how they might escape poverty and to have more than they would have had if they had not abided by those teachings. The gift of wisdom itself will keep the Christian from becoming poor. Of Wisdom it is said: "Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor." (Prov. 3: 16 nkjv) On the other hand, there are several proverbs of Solomon that say that certain things will bring poverty, such as laziness. He said: "He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich." (Prov. 10: 4 nkjv)
Does God purposely make some people to be dumb (mute), deaf, or blind, and others with all such abilities? In some instances, this is surely true, as in John 9:1-3, a text we looked at in writing on the problem of evil. There a man was born blind, not because of anyone's sin, but so that God could be glorified in his healing. Though the text does not directly say that God caused his blindness, it is certainly inferred.
Is it not a simpler reading of Exodus 4: 11 to say that God gives to some an eloquent tongue, seeing eyes, and hearing ears, and does not give those gifts to others? Can we not admit that God in his providence can keep any creature from being born with such disabilities? Can we not also admit that God can heal any person at any time he pleases? That he can make the blind to see and the deaf to hear when it pleases him?
The question involves God's distribution of his gifts and his distributive justice. If God gives one man the gift of sight, must he in justice give all men that gift? That is the chief question. If God gives one good thing to one person, is he obligated to give the same gift to all? Many would say yes, even though we see that this is not the actual case. Nor do men practice what they preach for they do the very thing that they think is unjust for God to do, as we have previously observed.
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