Many Faces of WisdomFaith and Wisdom in James
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) Faith and WisdomLeviticus 19:13-18New International Version13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. “‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight. 14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. 15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. 16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord. 17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. 18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. For ReflectionWe are a people of connectedness. These passages in Leviticus were written almost as long before Christ as the time since. Over four thousand years have passed and the "do nots" are as relevant now as then. Does it not make you think, "What is wrong with us, that we need to be reminded over and over again how to get along with each other?"
We can engage in long arguments about the suitability of much of the instruction in Leviticus and in the process, miss the point. Loving each other as God loves us is the key to behavior that brings us together. These admonitions are not just about justice, fairness, humility, or any of a number of other actions. If we look beyond the behaviors into their consequences, we might find that both our troubles and their resolution are all associated with how well we are functionally connected and interdependent. When we are in Christ and Christ is in us, we improve our potential to be in each other also. PrayPray so that you might see beyond ourselves into God's will that we all enjoy oneness with God, each other, and Creation. Pray and discover the path to satisfy your soul's desire for belonging.
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