I’m on to part 5 in my Values that Last series and am looking at moving past injustice in our world. Seems like once I get hung up on the “life’s not fair” attitude, I stop progressing, and rather appear depressing.
Here are some statistics that I’ve learned in this series:
- Jesus talks more in the Bible about wealth and poverty than heaven and hell, violence, and sexual immorality.
- Between the four gospels, 1 in 10 verses contain teaching on economic issues in relation to wealth and/or concern for the poor.
- Thirty-three percent of children under age five in developing nations suffer permanent effects from malnourishment.
- One third of the 14 million child deaths in our world are attributed to hunger.
- The Gross National Product (GNP) per capita in the United States is $14,387. Eighty percent of the world has a GNP of $6,000 or less.
As a result of sin in this fallen world, there is injustice. It is important when God says not to do something, we obey. Since the fall of man, there has been a rippling effect throughout generations. These effects include: homelessness, hunger, disease, political corruption, poverty, racism, religious persecutions, terrorism and many other things.
The following are some additional injustices that happen and what the Bible has to say regarding them:
- Criminals go unpunished. “Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16)
- The oppressed are unhelped. “Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter—on the side of their oppressors there is power, but they have no comforter.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1)
- Politicians are unethical. “If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.” (Ecclesiastes 5:8)
“There is an evil I have seen under the sun, as an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in great dignity, while the rich sit in a lowly place.” (Ecclesiastes 10:5-6)
- Good people go unrewarded. “There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this is also vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 8:14)
- Capable people are unsuccessful. “I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)
Each one of us will have faced injustices in our lives. Even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did! There are good reasons God has allowed this. He could have made us like robots, but He wanted us to want Him not just serve Him because we have to. Would you want for your children to love you because they have to or because they choose to?
Here are some explanations the Bible provides for us as to why injustice remains in our world:
- Because He gives us freedom of choice: “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse.” (Deuteronomy 11:26)
- Because ultimate justice is future: “I said in my heart, ‘God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.’” (Ecclesiastes 3:17)
- Because it shows we need a Savior: “I said in my heart, ‘Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.’” (Ecclesiastes 3:18)
- Because it can build character: “And not only that but we have glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
Though we may see injustice all around us, God sees a bigger picture that we could ever see. God was gracious to provide us with His word which is in the Bible. The following are some scriptures to help us to overcome injustice:
- Respond Gracefully: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you , as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
- Wait Expectantly: “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:19)
- Help Strategically: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do not violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.’” (Jeremiah 22:3)
Mankind was and is given freewill. God is not an unjust God; it is mankind that has not been just. Even though there are consequences for sin, God has been gracious and merciful allowing us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him upon our physical death if we should accept the gift Jesus Christ paid for us on the cross.
Please visit an ongoing forum discussion we have going on at Families.com in the Christian-Evangelical section called: Values that Last: Weekly Group Discussion. We invite you to share your thoughts on discussion questions pertaining to this series.
Scripture references were quoted from the NKJV.