It’s interesting what can happen when the economy is doing well.
More money for pleasure, more money for leisure, more to be spent and opportunities to get on the property ladder and invest and do well. For some it looks very encouraging indeed. It’s also interesting what tends to be promoted often during those times. A lot is about that idea of spending to enjoy the material benefits of the upturn in the economy. Not as much is promoted about increasing that which is given to support those who are not able to look after themselves. It’s not such a pressing burden to consider the poor, homeless, orphans and elderly. Gestures can be made, but little substantial change while the sun shines.
As soon as things take a down turn in the economy, however, who are the worst hit? Who are the ones to really feel the brunt of things?
It’s interesting how certain high profile celebrity scandals can raise awareness of certain inconsistencies and flaws in the way people are treated both from a legal and ethical position. Movements arise from them in a bid to bring more of these failings to light. While the headlines go on to show what’s going on in one area of depravity, it appears as though others persist under the radar. While major figures are investigated, others less prominent and more subtle appear to carry on with the veneer of respectability remaining.
In conversations with others, the sense of unfairness and injustice is evident. When it seems as though our best efforts are making some progress in an area, something happens to make us question if anything has substantially changed.
Wherever we are able to stand for justice it’s a good thing to do so. The scale of injustice, however, reflects the capacity for evil in the heart and mind of the human. It is not to live in despair at the seeming helplessness or hopelessness of the situation whether at the large or small scale. It is important to believe and trust that justice will come one way or another.
That hope is built on the understanding that there is a lot more to life than what can be seen with the physical eye. There are forces at operation and above all there is a God who sees and knows all. Even when we think justice is not being done, He sees and He knows. Even when it seems as though the rich get richer as the poor are exploited. He sees and He knows. Even as cases of corruption and the deliberate mistreatment of others seems to be allowed both on an individual and institutional level, He sees and He knows.
Not only does He see and know, but He judges. Be in no doubt that merciful and gracious as He is, He will not let the wicked get away with their wickedness. That, however, goes for everyone who comes under the category of wicked – and that category is broader than some of us want to admit …
God have mercy.
(Photo by Sebastian Pichler on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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