God commands us to ‘do justice‘, to ‘seek justice‘, to ‘bring justice‘- what then, IS ‘justice?’
Many might think it’s involving civil law, letting the law, police and courts resolve an issue.
But when God tells us to do something, shouldn’t it be important that we know what He means?
JUSTICE.
The Bible warns that “evil men do not understand justice” (Proverbs 28:5).
This word ‘justice’ keeps coming up.
“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern” (Proverbs 29:7)
Justice in its simplest form, means to set things right. Yet, how do we know what is right? Who defines “right”?
Therein lies the problem. The world has its definition, and God has His.
How we determine our understanding of this word, ‘justice‘ will lead to our acting on this word-which illustrates ‘whom’ we serve.
Micah 6:8 (ESV) “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Right away at first glance, we see the word JUST. Only God is just. He is holy, loving, compassionate, and a just God-a God of justice.
He is all about restoration, putting things back as right things that were wronged.
As followers of Christ, the answer is simple. Our sense of justice is instilled in us by our Creator God. He is loving, kind, and merciful and also righteous, holy, and just.
Biblical justice is the enactment of God’s nature. It means confronting evil and making right that which is wrong.
The more we hear the voice of God-by reading His Word, and talking with Him in prayer, the closer we walk with Him.
We learn His ways.
“The Rock, His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he,” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
The more time we spend with Him, we learn of His character. The more we learn of His character the more we learn what to do- by His example.
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you,” (Psalm 89:14).
Driven by the compassion of Christ, we pursue injustice to bring about justice– to right the wrongs of evil.
God has given us the command to ‘do justice‘.
When we see someone in need- who is hungry, in need of clothing, IN NEED OF JESUS- we are to ‘do justice.’
When we ‘see’, and know to do, but do not ‘do’, we are adding to the injustice, and disobeying our God.
Isaiah 1:17 (ESV) “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
The problem of poverty and homelessness is not the governments responsibility, but the Church’s. God has called US as His followers, to distribute to those in need.
When are we going to line up to His Word, Church?
Do justice.
In closing, I will share an excerpt from ‘Generous Justice by Timothy Keller’.
At the end of this excerpt, I’ll add in our website link and way to contribute to a global vision the Lord has given us. If you’d like to become part of the solution to helping homelessness and poverty, to ‘do justice‘ we would be grateful.
‘In the Scripture, gifts to the poor are called “acts of righteousness,” as in Matthew 6:1-2.
Not giving generously, then, is not stinginess but unrighteousness, a violation of God’s law.
In the book of Job, we see Job call every failure to help the poor a sin, offensive to God’s splendor (Job 31:23) and deserving of judgment and punishment (v. 28).
Remarkably, Job is asserting that it would be a sin against God to think of his goods as belonging to himself alone.
To not “share his bread” and his assets with the poor would be unrighteous, a sin against God, and therefore by definition a violation of God’s justice.’
(‘Generous Justice by Timothy Keller, Riverhead Books a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.’ https://relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/what-biblical-justice)
If you are compelled to do justice and get involved, we invite you to learn more of our ministry, Helping The Homeless, a 501 (C) 3 non profit.
We believe we have the blueprint to change the face of homelessness and less fortunate one person at a time. Pastor Wendy, Founder
Helping The Homeless Ministry website
(on website, click on ‘giving’ then before finalizing, add comment ‘Camp Restoration Fund’)
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