It’s Not Fair
Discussion Guide
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February 8, 2026
Scripture
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.” Proverbs 3:9–10 (NIV)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Additional Scripture References
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (NIV)
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
Main Idea
Following God does not always feel fair. Obedience often comes before results. Trust is required before clarity. And waiting is not punishment—it’s part of God’s process. When we honor God first, we align our lives with His order, trusting that overflow comes in His time, not ours.
Points Used in Sermon
God’s Justice Does Not Operate In Our Timeline
Scripture
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
Overview
One of the hardest tensions in following God is waiting. Especially when we’ve done the right thing. We obey. We give. We surrender. And then… nothing seems to happen. That delay can feel personal. But Scripture makes it clear—God is not late, slow, or indifferent. He simply operates on a different timeline than we do.
FIRST FRUITS FEEL UNFAIR WHEN WE EXPECT IMMEDIATE RETURN
Question
Where have you been tempted to label God as “unfair” simply because the outcome didn’t come quickly?
Deeper Dive
From the very beginning of Scripture, God establishes a pattern that challenges our need for immediacy. Abel gave first. Israel surrendered Jericho first. The widow poured out her last oil first. In every story, obedience came before the visible reward. Never after.
This exposes something important about us. We are often comfortable trusting God when the timeline makes sense. But First Fruits remove that safety net. They ask us to trust God’s character without proof of the outcome. Delay isn’t denial. It’s development. God uses waiting to form faith that isn’t transactional but relational—faith that trusts Him for who He is, not just what He provides.
Obedience Often Costs More Up Front
Scripture
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Overview
Obedience feels unfair because it requires commitment before results. God consistently asks us to move first. To give first. To surrender first. And that up-front cost often feels heavier than we expected.
TRUST ALWAYS HAS AN UP FRONT COST
Question
What has obedience cost you recently—time, comfort, control, or security?
Deeper Dive
Remember the gym analogy from this Sunday. It hits close to home because it mirrors real life. You pay before you feel stronger. You commit before you see change. And no one expects instant results. Yet spiritually, we often resist this same principle. We want God to prove the outcome before we commit to the process.
Jesus never hid the cost of following Him. He spoke plainly about self-denial, daily surrender, and long-term formation. Obedience isn’t about God taking something from us. It’s about God forming something in us. The cost up front is not a flaw in the system. It’s the system. And it’s how trust is built.
Choose Trust Even When It Feels Unfair
Scripture
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
Overview
At some point, every believer must decide whether trust is conditional or absolute. Choosing trust means obeying even when it doesn’t add up. Even when it feels risky. Even when fairness feels absent.
WHAT YOU PLACE IN GOD’S HANDS FIRST, HE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEXT
Question
What is one area where God may be asking you to trust Him before you feel ready?
Deeper Dive
Jericho wasn’t just a military victory—it was a statement of trust. By surrendering the first city, Israel declared that God was leading the journey. That act of trust established order, and God took responsibility for what followed.
Faith, by definition, moves before clarity arrives. It’s confidence in what we hope for and assurance in what we do not see. First Fruits are not just about generosity. They are directional. They reveal who we trust to lead the season ahead. When God is first, everything else finds its place.
Summary
Life with God doesn’t always feel fair. Obedience often comes with waiting. Trust often comes before understanding. But Scripture shows us again and again that God’s order produces lasting fruit. When we honor Him first, even in the tension, He shapes our hearts and prepares the overflow that follows.
Call to Action
This week, don’t wait for obedience to feel fair. Choose trust first. Identify one specific area where God is asking you to honor Him before you see the outcome—and respond in faith.
Prayer Prompts
- Ask God to reveal where impatience has replaced trust.
- Pray for strength to obey even when outcomes feel uncertain.
- Thank God for shaping your faith through waiting.
- Invite the Holy Spirit to help you place God first in every area of your life.