How many times do we see that God hates unequal weights and measures? So often when I’ve heard this passage from Proverbs used in a sermon, it is to remind Christians of their need to work diligently and not skive, or use the internet, or steal office supplies. But is that really the full depth of this passage?
Yes, of course it’s important that we work hard whatever our hands find to do (Colossians 3:23), but perhaps there’s more to it than that; perhaps we must do our jobs and make products that only reflect the Kingdom of God. If our jobs result in the oppression of the poor, then perhaps we need to change something (either our job or the way we conduct our business – preferably the latter, so the business is redeemed). Matthew 23:23
And perhaps, at great risk of starting a colossal tangent, we need to have a far greater understanding of the nature of the market; a substantially improved worldview. Romans 12:2 Can it be that I need to appreciate how my work has an impact in the Caspian sea, in Angola, in Houston, Texas? The effects of my job (the vocation, the company, the industry, my methods) can be felt in the lives of contractors, employees and their families. This is global; it’s so big as to be intimidating, an intimidation that tempts us to avoid thinking about it because it’s too big.
In Exodus 5:6-18, we see Pharaoh oppressing the Israelites, forcing them to work ceaselessly in support of his empire. Are there parallels to this story today?
Are we, in any way, like the Israelites?
Or are we like the Egyptian people, living in luxury in an empire that is propped up by slaves making our bricks?
How much does our economy depend on some poor guy getting pitiful wages, working seven days a week with an impossible quota?
If that’s a central part to our economy, then we need to change it now.
I will say that again; we NEED TO CHANGE IT NOW.
Some would choose a course to withdraw from ‘the world’, like the Essenes or the Amish. Others say, well, that’s the way it is and we should count ourselves blessed and at least those people in sweatshops have a job, and people in Debenhams and Primark and Asda need to earn a living too.
I can’t accept either view; to me they represent a restricted and uncreative thought process.
We live where we live; God would use us where we are, to be a light to the world where we are now.
Romans 12:2 there is a renewal of our mind that causes us to be separate, different from the way of the world.
Let me argue this – that it is not enough simply to say we love one another; that we must love God, and in loving God we love our neighbour, and as we love our neighbour, the more we love God.
Matthew 25:31-46 demonstrates the importance of loving our neighbour, and this in such a way as the world does not do right now, and that we do not do right now.
We must have the creative ‘third way’ of being in the world but not of it, that arguments on the left and right are not helpful; that expecting someone else to do it is not acceptable; that shrugging our shoulders and saying ‘What can I do about it though?’ is a cop out Jesus would not view favourably.
We should be abnormal.
Financial Institutions
Leviticus 25:35-38 – it’s always dangerous to start quoting the Torah to Christians… all kinds of accusations can follow!
Psalm 15:5 in the list of things that the righteous don’t do, lending money at interest is up there with telling the truth and walking upright!
Exodus 22:25 while acknowledging that it occurs, God tells His people not to be like them. Well, that’s alright because I don’t do that. But what about being part of a system that does?
I believe God saw it as a big problem if people charged interest and usury, because it would inevitably end up with debt – and if we read the gospels we see that God isn’t particularly motivated to hold people in debt!
