The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. (Proverbs 29:7)

A quick perusal of the use of the word “justice” in the Bible reveals something that is key to the nature of God. “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing” (Isaiah 61:8). Numerous times He is called a God of justice. Now about half the time this is tied to championing what is right and the judgment of wrongdoing, but half the time it is tied to the innocent, the poor and to foreigners — in other words, people who are not likely to receive justice or fair treatment. “Do not pervert justice or show partiality” (Deuteronomy 16:19).

If those who question the existence of a loving God based on the poverty and oppression that is in the world (how could He allow such a thing?) would take a good look into the word of God, they would find a God who is just as concerned — if not more concerned — as they are, about treating everyone fairly. And if God is concerned about this, how can we not be? Or as my friend Tony Campolo says, “Our hearts should be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” It definitely breaks the heart of God when the poor, the innocent and the foreigner are treated as less than those who are more privileged, or when someone is deprived of food, clothing or shelter for the crime of being born where they were born.

Marti defines justice by asking: “Is it just if where you live determines whether you live?” Who can control where they live — what family they were born into, what privileges they have or don’t have? This is an injustice because this is not a just world. We need to care about this and do what we can to right it through our support of those who are seeking to change these situations by providing food, shelter, small business loans and jobs that would not exist otherwise.

What does this mean for you and me today?

It means to seek, however we are able, to support those whose lives are being threatened by where they live, to see everyone we meet as equally deserving of the rights and privileges we would afford ourselves, and to treat every human being, regardless of race, religion or citizenship, with the dignity that behooves a creation of God in the image of God.

A friend to the Catch Ministry, Bob Jennings died on Tuesday, June 2 from pancreatic cancer.  A believer who came to know the Lord during the Jesus Movement, Bob had a strong presence, a great sense of humor and was the one who always came up with the good ideas.  He loved his vibrant wife La La deeply and was devoted to their three children Bryson, Hastine, and Harttley.  The most recent photo I have of Bob is of him holding the newest of his two grandchildren. He left me with that picture — that … and a hole in the heart of all who knew him.