Your Privilege Will be Judged
When the wealthy take advantage of those under the power of finance, and they do harm to the poor … beware. That is what the Prophet Amos says. In fact, Amos says that God will reward “evil for evil, and you won’t be able to pull your neck out of the noose.” It may seem that the rich have an advantage now, but it will not be that way forever. The richest billionaire will not have an advantage over a poor person in death. In fact, those who have laid treasures in Heaven may be poor, but will then have privilege. It is not a sin to be rich, but it is a sin if you use your wealth to ignore the poor. Listen carefully, “God will judge how you use your privilege.”
The Bible references the poor over 200 times, (depending on the version) so God has the poor on His heart. The Prophet Isaiah mentions the poor in a way that brings even public policy into account:
Isaiah 10:1-2 What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. They deprive the poor of justice and deny the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and take advantage of orphans.
So, why is God so concerned about the poor? I suppose there are so many of them, but more importantly, they are vulnerable for their well-being. Will we eradicate poverty in our lifetime? Probably not, because the system of finance is against it, and human nature is too fixated on greed. However, should we be concerned about our privilege as Americans? Do we use our privilege to maintain a lifestyle that is exorbitant compared to much of the world? I realize that our standard of living is the highest in the world, and we probably won’t dial it back, but we will be held accountable for how we used our privilege. Jesus talked about the least among us, and how those who could help those in need, did not:
Matthew 25:40 Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
Acts of kindness takes a sacrifice and a willingness to help those who are marginalized by society. It takes time to visit those in prison, and it takes resources to feed and clothe the poor, which means it takes a sacrifice on our behalf to do. Privilege, of course in the eyes of God, comes with the responsibility … not only to care for yourself, but use your privilege to serve others.
Why Are We Privileged?
I have often wondered when I have visited a third world country, why I wasn’t born there, instead of in America. I look at the poverty, the disease, the conditions of daily life, and I have no idea what life like that is like. I admire the Franciscans who were established by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209. They take vows of poverty and serve the poor all around the world, but that lifestyle, like the poor in the third world, is least understood by most of us who follow Christ. Which brings me back to privilege. Too often, we keep ourselves away from the uncomfortable people who beg, who are homeless, or those who hold signs asking for help on the street corner. Hardness of heart begins when we refuse to help when we been given the privilege to do so. The final judgement found in Matthew 25, is a judgment on compassionless people who choose to serve their privilege rather than to use their privilege to serve God. Matthew 25 is a sobering reminder that our privilege will be judged according to how we have used it.
Challenging the Culture with Truth … Larry Kutzler