The Way It Should Be

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work

 by myself? Tell her then to help me.”

–Luke 10:40b

More than thirty years ago, our family moved from Kentucky to North Carolina. The change occurred as part of my accepting a call to serve a church just outside of Charlotte.  Before beginning work, we were busy with all those kinds of things one has to do after a move— establishing utilities, unpacking boxes, new drivers licenses, and more. 

One day, I set out to open a checking account. Since Charlotte is such a major banking center, there were lots of options. I soon settled on a bank that had a branch just a few miles from our home and close to the church as well. The only other thing I knew about it was that my oldest brother was employed by the same bank 175 miles to the east.

As I entered the branch, I went to a teller and asked about opening an account.  She called on the local manager who took me into his office. As he asked a few questions and handled the paperwork, I mentioned that my brother worked for the same bank in Raleigh. “I don’t know what his job is,” I continued. “He may oversee a branch there too.” “What’s his name?” the manager asked and when I replied, the man put down his pen and got this look on his face like the heavens had just parted. “Your brother is an executive vice-president,” he gushed. 

I didn’t know what that meant, but later learned there were only three such persons in the company with that title. All of them reported directly to the president so clearly my big brother had done pretty well for himself.  Yet what I did understand clearly and appreciate fully was how the next time I walked into that branch, everyone there seemed to know my name!

This week we focus on the desired trait of fairness. That opening story might seem an odd jumping off point for the topic as some could say that such warm treatment toward me by those bank employees was unfair.  While I would add that a shared last name did not result in my receiving more favorable rates on banking products, I can understand the sentiment.  

As any parent with more than one child living under her roof will be accused of being unfair if a sibling gets some opportunity not granted to the other. An employee who gets passed over for a promotion given to someone with less tenure at the firm will wonder about the fairness of the decision, too. Even though most of us have been told at some point along the way that life is not fair, it doesn’t stop us from wanting it to be different and rightly so.

Our ancestors in the faith felt the same way. The first murder in Scripture occurred after Cain learned his offering to God was not received with the same favor as that of his brother Abel. Jacob received the birthright and blessing due to Esau because of some trickery and hunger-based trading. The first disciples were furious with James and John because those enterprising brothers (or their mother, depending on the gospel source you prefer) tried to gain favored seating status next to Jesus in eternity.  In none of those stories did the aggrieved parties cry out “It’s not fair” but that was the sentiment expressed. The same emotion stood behind today’s Scriptural call for help.

It came on a day when Martha and her sister Mary were hosting Jesus in their home. Martha set out to get all the tasks needed for the meal while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to listen. We’re not sure how long that circumstance went on, but Martha becomes so frustrated that she gets her guest involved. “Lord,” she cried out, “do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” In other words, “It’s not fair!”

Martha doesn’t get what she wants as Mary ends up receiving her guest’s praise. That outcome shouldn’t be taken to suggest that Jesus didn’t value fairness as his ministry revealed just the opposite. Nor does the fact that life can be unfair mean it should be so or that we are not to demonstrate a better way. After all, Scripture reminds us that “God shows no partiality,” (Romans 2:11). As individuals who seek to follow the Creator in all ways, our efforts then should reflect the same goal and priority.       

Do you remember the story I shared at the opening?  After telling my brother about the second visit to that bank lobby, I smiled in recalling how everyone knew my name.  In his characteristic understated way, he replied “I would hope they treated everyone that way.”  To which I should have replied “Well said, Big Brother!”  

Impartial one, help me to be the same. Amen.