God's Fairness

Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? Matthew 20:15

In Matthew 20 Jesus tells the story of the owner of the vineyard who needed work done, so he went out at different times of the day to hire workers. The first ones were hired at the dawning of the day, and the last bunch were hired an hour before the work was completed. The work was finished, and that is important to remember.

The average working man was no different in Jesus’ day to the employee of today. They saw what happened and they grumbled. Oh we are good at moaning aren’t we? The owner of the vineyard offered the same wage to the labourers whether they started first or last. You can imagine the ones who had been out in the sun all day sweating, as they discovered that the ones who worked for just an hour, got the same money. It’s not fair, I can hear them say.

Do you think a Christian who has been on the way for many years is worth more to Jesus than the late arrival? What about the thief on the cross? He got in literally as he was breathing his last. Did Jesus think any less of him for coming late? Not at all. So, if you think you are worth less in God’s eyes for any reason, compared to any other Christian, think again. We are all equally precious in His sight. What a comforting thought!

You are precious to me, and I have given you a special place of honour. I love you. That’s why I am willing... to save your life. Isaiah 43:4

DSK v Hotel Maid

The New York Hotel Maid at the centre of her alleged rape by the ex chief of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), has finally broken her silence after many weeks. She maintains her own innocence of charges of giving contradictory and misleading information to the authorities, when reporting the incident, and holds firm to her story that she was subjected to an unprovoked sex attack.

A lowly maid comes up against one of the world's most influential men. Each with their own story, and each which contradicts the other. Only one is telling the truth. No surprises there then? This is America, the land of the sue culture. Maybe we need the real 'Sioux' to sort this out.

Having lived in the USA, we made many friends, who are good people. That is not in doubt, but I will say what is. Money. In the land of opportunity, and the American Dream, nothing speaks louder than money. It permeates society, from the very poor (who have none) and the rich (who have plenty). It will not be the first time that a wealthy and powerful person will be in the courtroom, (if the case ever gets that far!) defended by the best lawyer that money can buy, and with only one purpose, to get free. On the other side of the courtroom will be a poor Maid, with only her dignity and a less than well known defence lawyer. Do you think it will be a fair trial? I don't. I reckon the scales of 'justice' are already tipped in DSK's favour. Do I need to remind you of the O J Simpson trial fiasco?

This immigrant Maid has nothing to lose, except her name, her poorly paid job, and her reputation. She has already said that she doesn't care about any settlement money. Maybe she is already resigned to defeat at the hands of monetary might, in a country which supposedly espouses freedom. Freedom at all levels internationally, where democratic values are held high. Except in a case like this.

You will have figured by now, where my sympathies lie, but if you are still in doubt, it is not with the rich and famous, who are able to buy themselves out of trouble, and don't care about any personal debris they may leave in their wake. Ok, maybe I am wrong. Maybe I am prejudiced. I would not mind being proved wrong, and if this is so, I will apologise. Until then, we can all watch and wait while the character assassination begins in the name of justice and freedom in the land of opportunity! One thing is certain, guilty or innocent, the lowly Maid's name and reputation is already being shredded in the pre trial preparations.

Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.1 Cor 10:12

Life Isn't Fair

The 20th of August is important for two similar, but also very different reasons. My wife, a very special lady, lost her life to cancer almost three years ago. She would have been a very young, sprightly and active wife, mum and gran had she survived that terrible disease. This date will always be remembered for the great loss of a lovely, kind and warm person.


A year ago on the same date, the Locherbie bomber, Abdel Baset Ali Al Megrahi was granted compassionate release from his life sentence for blowing up Pan Am Flight 103, taking hundreds of lives with it. He was found guilty of the crime. I have made no secret of my opinion that the decision to release him to go back to his own country was wrong. He was given 3 months to live, and now a year later he is still alive. That is where life isn't fair. Compare the life of my wife, who only did good, to the bomber who blew a plane and it's passengers out of the sky, in an act of terrorism, and got a hero's welcome when he arrived home in Libya.


The debate and argument rages again, one year on from his release. I have even heard people say they wish him to be dead, and the sooner the better. He has lived too long! At the moment he has lived 4 times longer than the doctors thought. No, life is not fair, and I don't agree with his release, but I do not wish him dead for the convenience of some politicians who are being questioned on the basis for the release decision.


It has often been repeated that compassion is a part of the Scottish judicial system, and that is good and right, even when some decisions may be open to question, but please let's not wish anyone dead. That wish and desire is held and used in the countries like the USA who still use capital punishment. They wish the criminal dead, and they pass that judgement. With the faults we have in Scotland, let's not be tempted to change it for the barbarism of wishing someone dead, and let's keep that compassion alive.


And whoever said that life was fair anyway? Certainly not in this life. One thing is for sure, after death, the real reward or judgement is passed out by a higher court than any on this earth. My wife has her reward now, and Megrahi will also be given his 'reward'. Then life will be fair!!