Faith Food Daily Devotional: Wednesday, 1^st May, 2013

Fat Cat

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages, (Jeremiah 22:13 E.S.V)

King Jehoiakim taxed his people heavily and forced laborers to work without pay to build his beautiful palace. Though such extreme servility is rare these days, throughout the world there is a growing gap between the rich and poor, such that while the lowly paid can barely afford basic necessities, the rich live a life of extreme luxury. Often times the policy makers ensure that they get grossly disproportionately compensation than others who have little voice or power. Politicians and senior management of corporations are a case in point. Though they may break no laws- since they have made the laws, their actions are morally wrong since they make others feel marginalized. Justice requires that individuals and groups get the proper allocation of wealth, power, reward, and respect they deserve. "It is but equity...that they who feed, clothe and lodge the whole body of the people, should have such a share of the produce of their own labor as to be themselves tolerably well fed, clothed and lodged." Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776)

Prayer

Almighty God, You who are faithful, true and righteous in all your ways;
Teach us to choose what is right, and stand against that which is evil.
Teach us to love justice and mercy, and stand against oppression and exploitation.
Show us where we are indifferent to injustice.
Empower us with your spirit, so we may have courage and determinations to do your will.
We trust you because you are Lord, and your love endures forever. Amen.

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“Of course I believe in free enterprise, but in my system of free enterprise, the democratic principle is that there never was, never has been, never will be, room for the ruthless exploitation of the many for the benefit of the few”. Harry S Truman

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