Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals—
those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
a man and his father go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
(Amos 2:6–7)
In Amos’ prophecy, God was most angry with his own people for not dealing justly with the economically poor. The generosity God extended to them should have been passed on to the poor, but instead, they were taking advantage of vulnerable people by charging exorbitant finance fees. The biblical concept of righteousness includes generosity. In our culture, we use words like “charity” and “benevolence” to describe our giving, which gives the impression that financial gifts to the materially and spiritually poor are optional. However, giving is not optional in the Bible. It is called an “act of righteousness” (Mt. 6:1-2). When Job described his “righteousness,” he was not only referring to a state he was in by God’s grace but also acts he performed. There is no evidence of being in a righteous state if one is not performing acts of righteousness. And Job said that if he withheld gifts from the poor, he would have sinned against God and thus been unrighteous (Job 31:23-28).1
So rectifying economic justice requires punishing companies and individuals who take advantage of or treat inequitably the “vulnerable quartet” of orphan, widow, immigrant, and poor. For example, credit companies that prey on the poor and unsuspecting must be legislated against. Or landlords who neglect the living conditions of their poor clients must be persuaded to do what is right. Primary economic justice means that as an employer, you proactively bless your employees and make it possible for all who wish to achieve to do so. And it means giving generously to the Church and its ministries that bless the economic and spiritually poor.
Prayer
Consider the ways God has been generous to you in your life and ask him to give you a more generous heart toward others and to show you opportunities to extend his generosity to them.
For opportunities to serve, please visit https://www.2pc.org/covid-19-ministry-partner-needs/.
1. Tim Keller, Generous Justice.