February 20, Justice for the Poor

Today’s reading: Psalms 96-100

“The King is mighty, he loves justice—you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right”
- Psalm 99:4.

God values justice and desires that His people and especially His leadership be committed to establish and administer justice without bias or prejudice. In the New Testament, James, the brother of Jesus, wrote about one form of injustice: bias against the poor. Here is what he wrote:

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? (James 2:1-7).

Are you doing what you can to further justice in your world, whether it be in your family, ministry or occupation? Is there anything else you can do or be involved in to help the poor?