Justice is the foundation of our society. And yet in recent years justice has not always been served. Justice is slow even when it does happen. But this problem is not a new one, one unique to modern times and to affluent societies.
Our proverb connects injustice with wealth. Remember, it was written almost 3000 years ago. They had problems with money buying favor with those in authority. Bribes are not a new thing.
We would be better off if we had less and had justice. A society without justice leads to anarchy. The recent spike in flash-mobs in New York City highlight what happens when justice is suspended. When the decision is made to not enforce laws, the lawless take advantage. The number of racially motivated unprovoked attacks are rising at an alarming rate. The sad thing is the silence over these crimes compared to the outrage over George Zimmerman.
I think the greater struggle is over living with little. We are now programmed to want more and more, so we put up with injustice, except if we are the object of that injustice. But our proverb values justice, as God values justice. Are you willing to live with little if you knew justice would always be served?
Too many of us, including myself, turn a blind eye to injustice except when we are directly involved. We don’t want to stand up and be counted because we might become the object of the next attack. Standing up will cost us something, perhaps everything, so we keep our head down. When injustice comes our way, we fight for a time, and then we get exhausted and give up.
If we would learn to live with little then we would have nothing to lose if we stand up against injustice. Wealth would have its proper place in our lives, subservient to the Master. Remember, we only hold wealth for a moment. It isn’t ours. It passes through our hands and is used to represent the LORD in the world. So don’t hold too tightly, or it will drag you under the water and drown you.
The Arnold Journey 