Responsibility in Equity

Epiphany
February 22, 2017

Scripture Reading: Psalm 99

Mighty King, lover of justice,
   you have established equity;
you have executed justice
   and righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the Lord our God;
   worship at his footstool.
   Holy is he! –Psalm 99:3-4

If I recall correctly, my first Aha! Moment with God’s equity came reading Psalm 67.4:

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you judge the peoples with equity
   and guide the nations upon earth.

I am a bit of a nut about equality within governments but this scripture takes equality a step further. It speaks to each person’s contributing whatever he or she can to bring about a world ruled by God’s love. It is the basis on which God passes ultimate judgement. Luke 12:48b states it like this: From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

We live in a world where acquisition, gain, is valued unconstrained by responsibility.  Such a system is not of God. We experienced this phenomenon in Oklahoma in the oil bust of the 1980’s and in the United States in 2008 with the nearly disastrous financial downturn. It seems we never learn from history.

Of course, there are some great examples of entrepreneurs whose contributions in both talent and funding have resulted in significant advancements in many areas such as global health. Isn’t that what we are all called to do? If the best we can do is bring a few cans of food to donate to a food closet at our church, we are called to do it.  If we can develop and implement a whole system to deliver clean water to sub-Saharan Africa, we are called to do that too. When we all work together our efforts expand exponentially like the loaves and fishes Jesus divided among the multitudes*.

Prayer: Lord, help us each to see the gifts within ourselves you provided for us to share and grant us the wisdom and courage and perseverance we need to share them generously. Amen.

*See Matthew 14, Luke 9, and John 6

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.