Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Overview:Being unfair refers to the act of treating someone or something in a manner that is unjust, biased, or inequitable. In the biblical context, unfairness is often associated with partiality, injustice, and the violation of God's standards of righteousness and justice. The Bible consistently calls for fairness, justice, and impartiality in human interactions, reflecting God's own nature as a just and righteous judge.
Biblical References and Themes:1.
God's Nature and Justice: The Bible portrays God as inherently just and fair.
Deuteronomy 32:4 states, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He." This verse underscores the perfection and fairness of God's character, serving as a model for human conduct.
2.
Condemnation of Partiality: Scripture explicitly condemns partiality and unfair treatment.
James 2:1-4 warns against showing favoritism: "My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, 'Here is a seat of honor,' but say to the poor man, 'You must stand,' or, 'Sit at my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
3.
Justice in Leadership and Governance: Leaders and judges are called to uphold justice and fairness.
Exodus 23:2-3 instructs, "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. You shall not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice. Nor shall you show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit." This passage emphasizes the importance of impartiality and integrity in legal and leadership roles.
4.
Fairness in Business and Economics: The Bible addresses fairness in economic transactions.
Leviticus 19:35-36 commands, "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall have honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." This directive highlights the necessity of honesty and fairness in commerce.
5.
The Golden Rule: The principle of treating others as one would like to be treated is a foundational biblical ethic.
Matthew 7:12 states, "In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets." This teaching encourages fairness and equity in all human relationships.
6.
Consequences of Unfairness: The Bible warns of the consequences of unfairness and injustice.
Proverbs 22:8 declares, "He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed." This proverb serves as a cautionary reminder of the divine retribution that may follow unjust actions.
7.
Redemption and Restoration: While the Bible acknowledges human tendencies toward unfairness, it also offers hope for redemption and restoration. Through repentance and faith in Christ, individuals can be transformed and empowered to live justly.
Micah 6:8 encapsulates this call: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Conclusion:The biblical call to fairness is rooted in the character of God and His desire for justice and righteousness among His people. By adhering to biblical principles of fairness, believers reflect God's justice and contribute to a more equitable and just society.
Topical Bible Verses
1 Peter 2:18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the fraudulent.
Topicalbible.orgRomans 3:5
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man)
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Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
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Psalm 92:15
To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
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Library
Introduction
... 1] Both he and Secretary Stanton made many positive efforts to find some way of
providing for the tender consciences of Friends withoutbeing unfair to the...
Ahab and Naboth
... We are all tempted, as Ahab was, to over-reach our neighbours in some way; I do
not mean always in cheating them, but inbeing unfair to them, in caring more...
Refutation of the Homeric view of the Soul's Detention from Hades...
... neglect of the burial"it is yet in the highest degreeunfair, that that... severally,
and if so appointed, I cannot suppose them capable ofbeing shortened; or...
Argument: C??cilius Retorts Upon Minucius, with Some Little...
... XV."Argument: C??cilius Retorts Upon Minucius, with Some Little Appearance ofBeing
Hurt, that... the office of a religious judge; for it is veryunfair for you...
Gregory Further Shows that the Only-BegottenBeing Begotten not...
... but also that the first-born and those born after him draw theirbeing from the... But
that we may not by our objections give anyunfair opponent ground for an...
OnBeing Filled with the Spirit
... present you with a few of the reasons that may prevent you frombeing filled with...
it, and has it all written down, that they are covetous andunfair in their...
Resume of his Dogmatic Teaching. Objections to it in Detail.
... in a thirdBeing not ranking with either of these but inferior to the one as to
its cause, to the other as to the energy." The first point, then, of theunfair...
Epistle Xcviii. To Theodore, Curator of Ravenna.
... Thisbeing altogetherunfair and crafty, we take it as if he had not sworn,"since
to some extent he will easily find for himself an occasion of exceeding...
But what Marvel that I was Thus Carried Away to Vanities...
... no heed, lest, through the fury of his spirit, he murder the real humanbeing.... no
less than I. In this play, too, I often soughtunfair conquests, conquered...
2 Cor. xii. 16-18
... has it to say that I did not receive [of you] indeed myself, but,being crafty,
I... me,' he says, Did any one of those who were sent by us makeunfair gain [1017...
Resources
What does the Bible say about being poor? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being a man? | GotQuestions.orgHow can a Christian woman avoid being a diva? | GotQuestions.orgBeing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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