Clapham Community

“By justice a king builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts tears it down.”

- Proverbs 29:4 (ESV)

There is something missing in our society. For a long time I could not put my finger on it, but I think I have figured it out. We are greatly lacking justice.

When you mention the word justice many people think of old west lawmen with their six-shooters or judges in black robes. While these things are associated with justice, there is an older, more practical use of the term. It comes from 17th and 18th century England and it basically states that justice is giving every man his proper due.

Lets apply this older understanding of justice to some contemporary issues we face and see how we are doing in creating a just society:

• Life – are we giving the unborn their due right to life?
• The Poor – are we giving the underprivileged more opportunity they are due to improve their situation or are we just creating more dependency?
• Crime – are we providing the protection due our citizens or do we let those who commit crimes go unhindered and unpunished?
• Taxes – are we being taxed a just amount to cover the needful operations of our government and are we getting the due service rendered to us for our taxes?

When we look at our society through that lens, we see that justice is greatly lacking but lets not stop there. How about you and I?

• Are we rendering due obedience, reverence, and prayer for the government in a lawful manner that is required by God’s word? – Mark 12:17; I Tim. 2:1-3
• Are we being compassionate and rendering due aid and comfort to those who cross our path who are in need? – I John 3:16-18
• Are we honest in all of our transactions, giving the proper due to our employers, creditors, customers, and clients? – Eph. 4:27-29

Something is definitely missing here and it is up to you and I to see that it is found and put in its due place. That something is justice.

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