NO FAVORITISM TO THE POOR

NO FAVORITISM TO THE POOR

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          You would expect the benevolent God of the Bible to bend backwards to champion the cause of the poor.

          But in the same chapter, when God exonerates us not to help a wicked man by being a malicious witness, and not to pervert justice by siding with the crowd, He goes ahead and says: “….do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.” (Exodus 23: 1-3).

GOD: BOTH MERCIFUL AND JUST!

          Man needs to clearly understand the difference between mercy and justice. These two can, and do go hand in hand.But we have somehow jumbled the two and this can be clearly be seen in the example of Robin Hood.

Robin Hood! The prince of thieves! He robs the rich and gives to the poor. Everybody’s hero! And in a Christian country too.

          The seventh commandment clearly says: “Thou shall not steal!”

 

          Biblically he has broken one of the Ten Commandments, and there is no other way to look at it!

GOD THE MERCIFUL: The Lord orders His people not to be hard hearted or tightfisted towards their poor brethren (under penalty of sin), but commands them to be openhanded and lend freely to their brothers, and also to the poor and needy. (Deuteronomy 15: 7 – 11).

           He exonerates them not to deprive the aliens or the fatherless of justice, or harass the widow, but to be charitable to the underprivileged. (Deuteronomy 15: 17 – 22).

          Prophet Nehemiah says: “………But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love……” (9:11).

Rich Man – Poor Man

          Unlike man, in God’s eyes, both should be, and are treated equally!

                                        

          But knowing man’s heart, God warns us not to show favoritism to the rich. He elucidates this with an example; that if a rich and a poor man come to a meeting, no special attention should be given to the rich man by offering him a good seat while making the poor man sit on the floor. (James 2: 1-7).

Poor man and justice: Though God has a soft corner for the poor, He is very clear when justice has to be done. There is absolutely no compromise.

           And in a lawsuit, even if judgment has to go against a poor man, so be it. When justice has to be doled out, it should be given irrespective of the financial standing of the two contestants. But, at the same time, one should never lose sight of mercy!

GOD -- THE JUST GOD: Although God is a merciful God, He is simultaneously and uncompromisingly a just God.

          The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17).              

          And because of this Jesus landed on the cross!!

          Man sinned. He should have been eternally damned. That’s God’s law. And it had to be upheld.

          And there was only one way out.

          God came down and became man. He died on the cross to pay for our sins. He died in our place. If we humble ourselves and accept His provision for us we are saved.

          If instead, we prefer to go by the law and work our way to salvation, by good works, then we are eternally damned! (Ephesians 2:8).

          That’s why God has given us a provision in Jesus Christ.

          “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).

          It’s simple. It’s easy. And it’s foolproof!

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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