One of the greatest sources of injustice in our world is the economic injustice that we live with each day.  When we consider the enormous wealth of 1% of the population of the world compared to the other 99%, it’s clear that the world is divided into the “haves” and the “have nots”.  God has never required more than a tithe (10%) of all God has given us.  But the money lenders of our age charge as much as 30% interest on credit-card debt and other loans.  Yet when Nehemiah sought justice for his people, he encouraged them to charge no interest, and only 1% of the commodities the people consumed.  What a different world it would be for the poor if the interest they paid could be returned, or the amount of interest reduced by as much as 25%.  What a difference it would be in the world if those who were wealthy believed in the equitable distribution of wealth in the way the bible suggests so that:

         15 As it is written,

     “The one who had much did not have too much,

         and the one who had little did not have too little.” (2 Cor. 8:15)

Even our gathering of resources is supposed to guided by a sense of justice with a fair distribution of the resources God has provided for all.  It makes no sense for some people to have two homes while others have none.  Yet we all know of people who have larger homes than they need, more homes than they can live in at one time, and more money than they could spend if they lived two lifetimes.  God has always required a just distribution or resources because it — as Nehemiah says — “is not right” for it to occur in ways that make it burdensome for the poor.  That is God’s justice at work in the human heart and among those who are challenged by exorbitant economic policies.

• When have you found it necessary to engage in a protest about high interest rates or the unfair treatment of the poor?
• What would be necessary for you to take seriously the cause of the poor in ways that you became an advocate for their concerns?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer
Gracious God, give me the courage and will to pursue Your justice in ways that I actively advocate for those who are the victims and survivors of economic injustice in our world.

         It may be difficult to understand that justice begins with an attitude of the heart.  Though somehow, we’ve learned to associate justice with “upholding the law”, making sure the punishment fits the crime, and seeing to it that those who violate the rights of others, get their “just due” or get what’s coming to them.  Well in some just and righteous ways, God believes that people should get what’s coming to them — that the hungry should get the food they need, that those without a place to live should have shelter, that everyone should be able to have clothes that fit the climate they are exposed to.  Those are justice issues.  But those are issues that happen when a person’s heart is in the right place.  The old practice of tearing your garments — displaying an outward sign of frustration with your sins, and an open and visible sign of grief — is to be replaced by an inward change of heart toward those who are in need.  It’s God’s justice that says in essence, “Don’t just wail and moan and cry and throw a hissy fit.  Do something that provides for the needs of others.”  It’s not enough to sit in the midst of our own pity party.  We have an obligation to act based on our grief at the situation before us.  It’s not enough to bemoan the state of the homeless if we aren’t willing to act to remedy the situation.  Because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, we should be also.  We shouldn’t rejoice in the calamity that others experience in life.  We should do justice, love mercy, and act to relieve the suffering of humanity as much as we can.  God wants us to empathize and sympathize with those who daily face life’s challenges.  But God also wants us to take an active role in helping to remedy their situations.  That’s what justice is in the eyes of God.

• On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the lowest engaged and 10 being the highest engaged, how would you rate your engagement to remedy situations for the less fortunate?
• What steps do you need to take to raise you activity by 2 points in the coming year?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer
Loving God, help me to transform my compassion and mercy for others into acts of love and grace that will meet their needs in the midst of an unjust distribution of wealth in our world.

        We’ve just ended the season of Lent and yet another glorious celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  If we were faithful during the season of Lent, then we chose to give up something — at least for the 40 days of Lent (not including Sundays) that began on Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday is the day we — those of us who chose to give up something — began a period of self‑‑denial, humbling ourselves before the Lord and denying ourselves some of the pleasures we normally indulge in.  And while we no longer cover ourselves in sackcloth and ashes, we do call our period of self-denial a fast.  God calls it something else.

         It seems that we’ve mistaken what a fast is really about — at least a fast as God sees it.  God does not view fasting as a ritual tied to a calendar or the weeks leading up to Holy Week.  It’s something that’s given to us to do daily.  To God, a fast is an issue of justice for the oppressed and the disenfranchised.  To God a fast is what we do to bring relief to the least of those God’s children.  It is a spiritual commitment to make sure that those who are homeless have adequate shelter; that those who are hungry have adequate food; that those who are naked have adequate clothing.

         Churches United for Justice, a ministry that our church participates in, has made every effort to find adequate housing options for those who are homeless.  It’s not our efforts that are holding things up.  We’ve been successful in establishing a housing trust fund.  It is the administrative authorities of the county who have yet to take any meaningful action letting go of the purse strings.  Yet, I noticed that God didn’t provide us an excuse for not doing justice as a spiritual fast.  There were no loopholes.  Our responsibility is to fast, giving honor to God by seeking shelter for those who are without, as well as ministering to the other needs of the poor.

         And for those who pursue justice in the name of God, there is a very handsome reward.  What we do will allow the light of the glory of God to shine brightly in the community.  And God will be there whenever we call.  There is no better fast than one that leads to a more intimate relationship with our God.

• Why do you believe God sees fasting as an issue of justice for the poor?
• What more would you like to see our church do to create a daily, weekly, or monthly fast in the name of our Christ?
• What are you willing to do to make sure that our light shines and when God hears our call, God will answer, “Here am I.”

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Righteous and just God, increase my human and spiritual desire to live the fast You have chosen for us. Strengthen me to do justice doing all I can to secure shelter for the homeless.