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What does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly...
Micah6:8 Justice can take on many forms. Politically, justice is finding your proper station in life based on your intelligence and skills. Economically, justice is fair scales and balances, a fair price for a service rendered, Morally, justice is people getting what they deserve either good or bad. Legally, justice is fair treatment under the law. Socially, justice is knowing when to treat people the same as other people and when to treat them differently. Finally, philosophically, justice is a balance between equality and freedom. All are good working definitions of justice. So how are we as Christians to treat others justly? Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Tim2:3 As Christians we are called to be just and fair. Help people find their place in life. Help people to receive a fair wage for a days work. Make sure people get what they deserve. Make sure people are not discriminated against and ensure people are treated not only as members of a group, but individually as well. Yet as Christians we may not always be treated with justice and fairness. This is a strong teaching of scripture. To want to give people the bread of life is treating people justly. It is wanting for them to gain heaven and avoid hell. Yet in doing so one may often not be received with the same love and warmth that may flow from your very being. Stephen is stoned to death for preaching salvation. Paul endures all sorts of hardships to bring the good news to the Gentile. In becoming a Christian you may lose the respect of family and friend. This is stark reality. Yet we are not to abandon our commission to do justly and to want only the best for people even if we are not treated that way ourselves. Not only are we we to do justly, we are to “delight in mercy and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8) We as Christians may not always be treated with justice but we must never fail to give it and even give more than a person may deserve (mercy). Justice is not always attainable in this world but in the reign of God justice will be served. So do not abandon our commission to do justly, delight in mercy, and walk humbly with God. If we sow to the spirit we will reap if we do not faint. (Gal6) and people will take notice that we have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. Amen |