Charles W. Colson echoes Amos: When greed has replaced justice and money has triumphed over mercy, we as God’s people proclaim repentance, stand for justice and care for the helpless.

“Amos was a shepherd living in the rugged terrain south of Jerusalem. One day while about the regular duties of sheep-tending, he was dramatically confronted by a vision of God’s fearsome judgment. Knowing this vision was from God, Amos left his flock to deliver the stinging rebuke to Israel…

Amos also exposed the practice of selling wheat on the Sabbath, cheating with dishonest scales, and selling the refuse of wheat remaining after the harvest which under Jewish law was to be left to the edges of the field of the poor. This was God’s welfare plan but the Jews had become so greedy profiting at the expense of the poor and powerless that they were depriving them of the crumbs needed to stay alive.

Amos pronounced God’s judgment upon Israel because “they sell the righteous for money and the needy for a pair of sandals,” a reference to the common practice of the wealth who could bribe judges with as little as the price of a poor man’s sandals.

Greed had replaced justice, money had triumphed over mercy, and the judicial system was merely a pawn of power and privilege used to oppress the very people it was intended to protect. The righteousness of God was no longer the standard in the land.

And so, speaking through Amos, God demanded that the nation repent, “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts” [Amos 5:15a] And then in one of the grandest declarations of Scripture, he thundered, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” [Amos 5:24].

Let those who believe that “God helps those who help themselves” read Amos. The Bible teaches exactly the opposite of that hallowed American maxim: God cares especially for those who can’t help themselves—the poor and needy, the forgotten and helpless. Amos warned that the nation whose vested interests manipulated power structures for their own gain, at the expense of the poor, must face the judgment of an angry God.”

Charles W. Colson (1931-2012) Loving God (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983) 143-144.

As you may know, Colson went home to be with the Lord yesterday. I believe his instructions to those of use reading this post would be something like this: “Man your posts and do our duty to proclaim repentance, stand for justice and care for the helpless.”

For more info that celebrates his life and legacy, visit: www.chuckcolson.org

Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. He does not…oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest. Ezekiel 18:5, 7-8a

“This just man does not use his economic position to exploit people who are in a weaker financial position. Most interesting is how the text pairs “he does not commit robbery” with the explanatory clause that he actively gives food and clothing to the poor. The implication is that if you do not actively and generously share your resources with the poor, you are a robber. You are not living justly.”

Tim Keller in Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just (New York: Dutton, 2010) 15-17. Cf. Deut 10:18-19, Is 58:6-7, and Matt 6:1-2 where “not giving generously, then, is not stinginess, but unrighteousness.”

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:9-11

“When we offer to others what little we have to give, Jesus will use it to feed them with abundant life. God is unlimited in his generosity and in his desire to feed his people. But he does need us to offer what little we have. Am I sharing with others the little time or talent or energy or treasure that I have so others might experience the abundant blessing of God?”

Bill Adams in The Redemptorists of the Denver Province blogpost for 20 April 2012.

Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 13:9

“Everyone has a story to tell. Generous listening is about sitting still and hearing the story… giving them the floor…the talking stick. When we listen generously we may ask for clarification, but must always encourage the speaker forward with their story…

A generous listener listens patiently and carefully. A generous listener doesn’t jump to conclusions. A generous listener doesn’t judge. A generous listener doesn’t focus on the personal cost of the speech. A generous listener encourages the speaker to speak. A generous listener asks for and encourages clarity on the part of the speaker in a spirit of kindness and love. A generous listener is ultimately seeking wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, Gods miracles, discernment, and understanding…

Generous listening not only helps us to be a blessing to others who need to sort out life but it refreshes life for us as well.

Generous listening holds the promise of another blessing for the listener: If you listen long enough, you just might learn something new…

Our service to our Lord, born out of gratitude to Him and love for Him, can only proceed through His power when we are in meaningful relationship with Him.

So how do we create and maintain a meaningful relationship with our Lord. Generous listening.”

Milton Sanders, excerpts from a sermon entitled Generous Listening delivered at Crossroads Church, La Paz, Mexico, on 1 January 2012.

For the manuscript, visit: www.crossroadslapaz.org/doc/20120101.pdf

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

“A brother said to a hermit, “If I see a monk about whom I have heard that he is guilty of sin, I cannot make myself invite him into my cell. But if I see a good monk, I bring him in gladly.” The hermit said, “If you do good to a good brother, it is nothing to him, but to the other give double charity, for he is sick.”

Conversation between a hermit and a brother in Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another, by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Boston: Shambhala, 2005) 131.

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40b

“Our life and our death are with our neighbor. If we do good to our neighbor, we do good to God; if we cause our neighbor to stumble, we sin against Christ.”

Anthony, Desert Father (c. 270) as recounted in Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Boston: Shambhala, 2005) 130.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42

“One of the [desert] fathers said, “If anyone asks you for something, and you give it to him, even if you are forced to give it, let your heart go with the gift, as it is written, ‘ if a man forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two.’ (Matt. 5:41). This means that if you are asked for anything, give it with a willing heart.”

A Desert Father as recounted in Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Boston: Shambhala, 2005) 129.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. James 1:9-11

“In this case the wealthy Christian is instructed to take no pride in possessions or position, but rather to think on his self-abasement in identifying with Christ (i.e. repenting) and Christ’s poor people…

This rich person is called with a sharp ironic twist to understand the humiliation in which he lives, existing like the rich fool (Luke 12:13–21) in luxury in this age only to discover the true system of values in the coming age, which will be unexpectedly thrust upon him. There may also be the suggestion that if the rich would really embrace humiliation (i.e. the outward situation of the followers of Jesus), he would really have something to boast about…”

Peter Davids in The Epistle of James: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982).

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

“The question about the destiny of the inactive believer must be carefully answered. Only God is able to save. Only those who do the Word make valid claims to be believers. God will not show mercy in the judgment to those who have been unmerciful. But neither profession of faith nor deeds of faith actually “save” anyone; only God saves.

It is thus much more advisable to emphasize what James emphasized: faith without deeds is good to no one. He was not implying that the deeds of faith are effective for salvation. Rather, the deeds of faith demonstrate the validity of the claim to be a believer; without them the claim is empty or “dead”—but more importantly, without deeds the needy do not receive help.”

Kurt Richardson The New American Commentary. Vol. 36 (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997).

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

“The word wisdom is one of the important terms in this letter…it is basically a practical, moral, and spiritual insight given by God. It is the ability to discern right from wrong and good from evil. It is the power that enables a person to do and say the right thing at the right time…

According to James wisdom is a gift from God, something God gives, and therefore a person must ask for it and it will be given to him.

The adverb rendered generously is found only here in the New Testament. It means literally “simply” or “single-heartedly,” that is, “without hesitation,” “without condition,” or “without reservation.”

…Considering the fact that this adverb is used in connection with “giving,” most modern translations favor the rendering generously. The focus here appears to be on the extent of giving, but it may be noted that generosity in some languages also refers to the manner of giving. In certain languages it will be rendered in an idiomatic way; for example, “give with a wide heart.”

Without reproaching can be taken in the sense of “without making them feel guilty” or “without scolding;” or it can be understood in the sense of “ungrudgingly.” The former goes better with “without condition” or “without question,” while the latter pairs better with “generously.” The rendering “graciously,” expressed positively, is more general than other translations. “Graciously” may also be rendered as “in a kind way,” or “in a way that shows his love and care.”

An alternative translation model for this verse may be:

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God and he will give it to you. God is generous and will give wisdom to all who ask him, in a way that shows his love and care.”

What about your giving?

I. Loh & H. Hatton, A Handbook on the Letter from James. UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1997).