A Barometer of Faithfulness
Scripture - Numbers 5:6-7
Say to the Israelites: ‘When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.
Observation
The Lord is giving Moses the “rules” for life in the Camp, how they are to relate to the Lord and to each other. In this verse, the Lord elevates how people treat each other to the same level as dealing with God. Wronging another person is considered unfaithfulness to the Lord. Restitution is clear - in this example righting the wrong costs 20% more than the original wrong.
Such rules, applied individually and thus collectively, allowed a couple of million people to live and move in close community without a police force to keep order.
Application
Our modern society today is reaping the fruits of abandonment of God and of a basic moral code. Instead of considering the impact of our actions on others, we are encouraged to look out for our own interests and benefit, thereby elevating ourselves above others. Frankly, for a lot of us this comes pretty easily.
Have I caught that disease? Do I think I’m being unfaithful to God when I wrong someone else? Do I even see my selfish acts as wronging someone else? Do I even see my acts as selfish, or do I think I deserve better?
I alone cannot fix the ills of our society. Neither should I isolate myself from it. I can, however, put in the conscious thought and effort to consider and treat others as at least equal to me. Or, with the help of the Holy Spirit living and loving through me, I can consider others before myself!
Prayer
Lord, I confess my tendency towards selfishness. Help me to have and show your heart of love for people around me, to prefer them over myself, even when it costs me. Help my faithfulness to you to be evident in how I treat others.
Created over 2 years ago
