Do Others Deserve ‘Getting What They Deserve’?
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘(9)“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. (10) Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.”’ (Zechariah 7:9-10)
The context of this chapter and verse comes from the situation the Israelites found themselves in in the days of Zechariah. They were just re-entering Jerusalem in 520BC (or so) after Babylonian exile, and the focus of Zechariah (after the first six chapters of prophecy on the rebuilding of the Temple, of Jesus’ 1st coming, and of the Tribulation) is the worship of God through the Temple and obedience to Him and His Word. Through Zechariah in chapter 7, God challenges the Israelites on whether acts of worship (fasting or feasting) were done for self-gratification or really done for the God’s glory. He then in verses 9 and 10 challenges the Israelites to obey what Jesus provides as the ‘Two Commandments’ in Matthew 22:34-40, ‘Love God, and Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’
We often forget what ‘true justice’ is; we often look at the misfortunes of others, whether they have failing health or financial woes we often think or say, ‘they got what they deserve’ and leave them to wallow in their despair, especially those in high-profile positions such as politicians or celebrities. Their views or attitudes may not be necessarily likable, especially if they espouse anti-Christian or anti-American sentiments publicly or have viewpoints opposite of your own. We often attribute to them a projection of feelings that they are characters and not human beings, given that we see them only on TV or in the news, never interacting with them personably as we do those in church or at work.
The same can be said of those not in our social ‘caste’; those who are ‘middle-class’ or ‘upper-class’ may not be involved in those who are poor, unless an effort is made to be involved (such as the Jesus-Loves-You Ministry). Those who are ‘poor’ may not seek friendships with the ‘rich’, and vice versa, because of the perceived differences of commonality. However, on both sides of the fence they are people, with more similarities than differences and they have the same opportunity to gain Salvation and have the Love of God applied to them as we who are Faithful to Christ do. God does not recognize social structures, financial status or positional power; He sees each person equally and places more value on the condition of their heart and their level of obedience to Him, like the poor widow who gave her last two cents as an offering.
Don’t simply scoff at those who you see suffering or turn a blind eye to those less fortunate, even those who may be enriched and in power. Instead of wishing the evil of them ‘getting what they deserve’, pray for them and show compassion toward them. The only ones who are ‘getting what they deserve’ are Satan and his fallen angels, and those who do not accept Jesus as Lord before they mortally die, ending up in the eternal Lake of Fire. We need to be mindful that without the forgiveness Jesus provides us, we would be in the same predicament.
