It Just Ain’t Fair

By Pastor J.W.T. Spies

Psalm 73:2-5

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Intro: Asaph the psalmist on this occasion has giving time to observe what was going on around him, he had taken the time to observe the wicked and the righteous. He took inventory of what the unrighteous, was doing and what the righteous was doing.

When we read the text, we see that Asaph has devoted time too also observe the Godly and the ungodly, Asaph has seen a great difference in how the righteous faired, opposed to how the unrighteous is fairing. He noticed how the righteous were constantly struggling, while the wicked seem to be always prosper.

So, this episode disturbs and distress Asaph until it almost got the best of him.

My brothers and sisters this troubled the psalmist to see the wicked prosper and flourish while the righteous continual to be in poverty and in their struggles.

And I think I ought to tell you that Asaph had some serious problems, even with God.

To sum it all up, for those of you who are following all of the rules, and to those of you who are staying prayed up. It seems as though you are fasting and following all of the guidelines of the Word of God. And when you see what the wicked is doing, and you’re not doing, it makes you want to say to yourself it just ain’t fair. We may ask the question, how is it that it seems as though the wicked, the unrighteous, the •evil. sinful. immoral. unlawful. vicious. vile. and those that are of the darkness seem to have it going on, and I’m barely making it. It just ain’t fair.

And that’s what I want to use as a subject this morning it just ain’t fair, and the reason that I want to embark upon this subject is because there is somebody that is sitting right here in the sanctuary are struggling with some of the same symptoms as Asaph.

And the reason that you feel this way is because you have endeavored to cross all of the T’s, you have made sure that you have dotted all of the I’s, but it seems as though still you see nothing but struggle while the ungodly continual to prosper. And it makes you want to scream, it just ain’t fair.

It just ain’t fair, that I’m praying, and others are not, and my children are still acting up. And their children are getting get out of jail free cards. It ain’t fair that I devote my time to fasting and supplication, and I can’t seem to get ahead, and those that are living a life of hatred and jealousy seems to be getting everything that there heart desires. I wish that I can get somebody to say, it ain’t fair.

Now let me hurry and say that I know that our subject is not grammatically correct, but I believe that saying it this way, it captures the sentiments of what we are trying to express.

Because I know that I could have said, it just isn’t fair, but that doesn’t seem to have the gravity that we’re looking for. So, if you don’t mind, just indulged me for a second and say it just ain’t fair.

Praise Tabernacle, the record informs us this morning of a serious issue, and some serious concerns on the behalf of Asaph. Time will not allow me to express all of the concerns that are here but, permit me to say that the psalmist was gripped by some concerns that are very similar to the concerns of many of us.

You see, Asaph had decided to live for God, he had committed himself to walk, and to talk in a Godly fashion, he had endeavored to live his life that would be pleasing to the almighty God.

But his plight as is the plight of many believers, was one of stress and strange, and one of a tremendous struggle, and his problem was made even greater when he would look at the unrighteous having no struggle or problems at all.

This took such of toll on the man of God, the pressure was so great that it is stated here in the words that he said, that his feet almost slipped.

In other words, he all most backslid into the ways of the world. And this may seem like it nothing, but when some of us have had our backs up against the wall, and the bills are pressing you on every hand, the light bill, the gas bill, the rent, food, water, gas, soap, tissue it will make you sometime think, if I could just slip back just long enough to get myself caught up. If I could just make one more block, just to get back up on my feet. If I can just see bobby one more time, because I just need a little help, if I could just boost one more item from the store, sell one package, I know I’ll be alright.