Life’s Not Fair

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

January 12, 2026

Life’s Not Fair

But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

Luke 10:40

On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went to the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary in Bethany. While Jesus was teaching those gathered around him, including Mary who was sitting at his feet, he was called upon to referee Martha’s dispute with her sister.  “It’s not fair” is one of the most over-used phrases in our culture. While a call for fairness seems rational, implicit in the cry is the individual’s belief that their self-interest lies at the center of the universe and the scales of life should tilt in their favor.  Sometimes you just want to scream at those crying for fairness, “Life’s not fair! Get over it!”

But Jesus isn’t a screamer; however, his lack of volume doesn’t diminish the making of his point. Jesus responded to Martha’s request by once again reminding his disciples, “There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42) Jesus’ words here are a very succinct summary of his words in the Sermon on the Mount,

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:31-33)

My Takeaway: I am thinking of Stephen Covey and his classic work, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His first three habits are: 1: be proactive, 2: begin with the end in mind, and 3: put first things first. Martha was doing 1 & 3, but she forgot number 2: begin with the end in mind, or as Jesus stated it, There is only one thing worth being concerned about, Seek the Kingdom of God above all else. This is the end I always want to remember.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.