He has showed 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)
I am going to do a seminar on the topic "Poverty & Social Justice" at a local Christian Medical and Dental Society meeting in a couple of weeks. Not sure if I am qualified to teach this complicated subject but I will share my experience as I understand it in my capacity as a family doctor as well as a Christian.
I wrote a blog not too long ago called "Treating Poverty". As I reflect back what I learned from these scriptural verses I am once again reminded of my riches in Christ Jesus and my responsibility to my fellow men:
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" (Proverbs 31:8-9)
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." (Isaiah 58:6-11)
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:17)
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
I will ask a patient of mine to help the students take a clinical history that will uncover many of the issues that the poor faces in our society and learn what they can do to help. I will circulate this material ahead of time so the participants will understand the scope of the problem from a clinical perspective. I pray that everyone will leave from the meeting a sense of a bigger God and a renewed commitment to the poor and those suffering from injustice.
In today's scripture reading - these passages prophesied the coming of a great King who will establish true peace founded on righteousness and justice.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; (Is 9:2)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Is 9:6-7)
He will bring about judgement on those who pervert justice and do not use their wealth to help those in need:
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches? (Is 10:1-3)
See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low. He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One. (Is 10:33-34)
Jesus has set an example for us. May His grace enable us to do His will on earth!
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)
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