“DO NOT twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15 NLTV)
Also, “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.” (Exodus 23:8 NIV)
Justice is the ability to show impartiality. In order to be fair, a person must get rid of all his or her personal prejudices and tendencies to be selfish. Justice is essential to a Godly lifestyle.
While we are always supposed to practice justice and fairness as individuals, we can’t really expect it from others all the time. It is very hard to see things that do not seem fair and still continue to lead Godly lives. Sometimes we may even feel that God is unfair. The writer of Psalm 73 struggled with the issue of fairness. He was trying very hard to be good, yet he saw wicked people who seemed to be wealthier and happier than he was. But above all these, he remained steadfast to his godly convictions.
Now, If we were as honest as this person, would we ever question the fairness of God? When? Specifically, what would we want to know? Let’s pend some time considering how fairly we treat other people and make any changes that we think are necessary.
We can take further action by first, nurturing an attitude of vigilance and understanding of situations that tend to undermine justice in our relationships and in the community. We should develop a renewed consciousness of being mindful of the rights and dignity of others and maintain an esteemed level of respect for every individual. We should promote the value of social justice by seeking ways of reaching out to those who may be less-fortunate in life (through volunteer or charitable works) and give them justice by helping them live with dignity and with renewed hope in the justice system of our country.
Second, we should examine our personal sense of justice and fairness and reflect on the times when have caused injustice to someone while going about our different roles in life. We can identify some sincere courses of action that will allow us to rectify the injustice we have done to another person, specifically to our spouse, parents, children, siblings, relatives, subordinates, superiors, colleagues and friends, members of the society and to our country men.
As good citizens, let us therefore be mindful that we do not trample on the rights and dignity of others, but rather ensure to our fellow men of our vigilance in the protection of their rights. We must be fair and charitable in all our dealings. There is a proverb that says, “A lie will remain a lie even if everyone believes it. On the other hand, the truth remains the truth even of only a few choose to stand and live by it.”
Being bribed and accepting bribe automatically nullifies justice. It cripples what justice has to offer. Mathew 7:13 says “Wide is the gate that goes to destruction, but narrow is the gate toward righteousness.”
Thus, we shall continue to do our best to help others whose lives may be unjustly affected by the times and by practices that undermine their dignity as persons. Let us continue to have faith in the value of justice and act conscientiously in seeking and rendering it.