“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?” (Micah 6:8, ESV)
Look around and you will see injustice everywhere. Some of it is perceived…but most is very real. After all, ours is a fallen world.
If we decide to take seriously God’s command to “do justice,” it can be dizzying. I mean, there’s only one you…and you can’t do everything. You can’t say yes to every just cause, right? You can’t give money to every worthy ministry, can you?
Fortunately, God makes it simple for us. The Bible teaches three responsibilities for Christians in “doing justice” – in this order.
- Our first responsibility is at home: “But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8, CSB)
- Our second responsibility lies with our church, the community of faith: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10, CSB)
- And that second command also reveals our third responsibility…we are to work for the good “of all.” That’s our neighbor.
Who is my neighbor? That’s the question posed to Jesus by the expert in the law…and it is the topic of my sermon this week. I hope you’ll join us!
