equality vs equity

A while ago, I was introduced to the distinction between equality and equity. Why this wasn't something I was really aware of until my 20s, I don't know [I've always just associated equity with finances and the housing market?], but I've been thinking about it off-and-on for several weeks. Most of you have probably seen this comic by now, or at least the first two panels:

It's a pretty helpful illustration for differentiating between two somewhat confusingly similar terms. I've most commonly seen it used in the context of social, political, and economical discussions [where it is certainly relevant], but it came to mind in a different way a few weeks ago when I came across Psalms 98:9 "for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." [As a side note, why did I decide to read the Old Testament from start to finish? Guys, this thing is long.] With this terminology in the back of my mind, this verse stuck out to me. 

When we discuss equity of resources do we include patience, charity, and service on the list of things that people need? We ought to, especially because in our own day-to-day lives these are the resources that we are most able to provide. In our interactions with other people are we being equal or equitable? We've all been born into unique circumstances, with different privileges and challenges, and, because our own circumstance is the only one we really know, it's really easy to fall into the habit of holding others to the same standards that we expect to meet, regardless of their personal circumstances.

The thing is, it's easier to enact equality in our own lives than it is to use equity. Equality in our interactions with other people is a blanket behavior, everyone is given the same things, held to the same standard, etc. To utilize equity in our relationships requires us to actually have relationships with those around us. Heavenly Father can judge us in equity because He knows each of us. He knows our circumstances, our resources, our intents. We cannot truly serve and love those around us unless we come to know them, in some way, and see them the way He does.

I am far from being proficient at this. We live in a world that encourages and constantly bombards us with snap judgments—a thought process that I've seen sneaking into my life more and more. That's not the kind of person I want to be. Thankfully, I will always have a choice in that, and a loving Heavenly Father who will encourage my every effort to improve.