“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Today we come to the third category that changes our attitude toward others.
“whatever things are just”
“Just” is that which is right or fair. “Just” refers to conformity to God’s standards; thus, it is worthy of God’s approval. Anything fair and square with God or man forms a proper attitude. The Christian should think about whatever is on the level. Certain types of people hold prejudice against others of color or level of income. Bias blinds their sense of fairness.
Syntyche was not fair with Euodia. She depicted Euodia in ways that did not truly represent who she was. Syntyche misrepresented Euodia’s true position about things. She mischaracterized Euodia. She set up a straw woman and portrayed Euodia in a way fundamentally different from what she truly believed. Syntyche was not fair in her representation of Euodia. Bias about Euodia’s position blinded Syntyche to a fair representation of her.
Principle:
Fairness is a reflection of God’s character.
Application:
A sense of fairness is a building block for a good relationship. Are you unfair to people close to you? Do you use unfair tactics with them that make them feel manipulated by you? Have you considered the possibility of relating to people fairly, regardless of the consequence? You will have done your half of building an environment for a good relationship.
The issue of fairness is a tricky business. A friend may do something wrong and deeply grieve over the wrong. We may not see that grief. We may severely blame him for something he has already been deeply exercised about in his own heart. He may have already confessed it and put the necessary corrections in place. To blame him would be to engage in unnecessary work. It is blindness to fairness.
