Proverbs 16:8
Justice
is the foundation of our society. And yet in recent years justice has not
always been served. Justice is slow even when it does happen. But this problem
is not a new one, one unique to modern times and to affluent societies.
Our
proverb connects injustice with wealth. Remember, it was written almost 3000
years ago. They had problems with money buying favor with those in authority.
Bribes are not a new thing.
We
would be better off if we had less and had justice. A society without justice
leads to anarchy. The recent spike in flash-mobs in New York City highlight
what happens when justice is suspended. When the decision is made to not
enforce laws, the lawless take advantage. The number of racially motivated
unprovoked attacks are rising at an alarming rate. The sad thing is the silence
over these crimes compared to the outrage over George Zimmerman.
I
think the greater struggle is over living with little. We are now programmed to
want more and more, so we put up with injustice, except if we are the object of
that injustice. But our proverb values justice, as God values justice. Are you
willing to live with little if you knew justice would always be served?
Too
many of us, including myself, turn a blind eye to injustice except when we are
directly involved. We don’t want to stand up and be counted because we might
become the object of the next attack. Standing up will cost us something,
perhaps everything, so we keep our head down. When injustice comes our way, we
fight for a time, and then we get exhausted and give up.
If
we would learn to live with little then we would have nothing to lose if we
stand up against injustice. Wealth would have its proper place in our lives,
subservient to the Master. Remember, we only hold wealth for a moment. It isn’t
ours. It passes through our hands and is used to represent the LORD in the
world. So don’t hold too tightly, or it will drag you under the water and drown
you.