In many countries where the government is oppressive, people protest for justice. In America, our country stands for justice and liberty for all, but how each defines justice is based on their understanding. In Philippians 4:8, we are told to think about what is just. Today, we will sift through what that means and how to apply it to our own lives.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
To be “just” is defined as behaving according to what is morally right and fair. It is what is right between each other. A Christian should be just in all his dealings with others. Our religion does not exempt us from laws we don’t like. For instance, I think 60 is a ridiculous speed limit on parts of Interstate 20, but it is a law, and I should obey it. If I don’t, the just action is to give me a speeding ticket. If I think about what justice will do to me, I will slow down.
As Christians, we should weigh an action’s consequences before acting. We are to consider how our actions will be viewed by those who are not Christians or by those who are baby Christians. Those who are not Christians that we are trying to reach judge us more on justice and honesty than they do our church attendance. We can be in every service, but if they see us breaking the law in any way, they will see us as a hypocrite. We must live our lives to be a good testimony in all situations. It may be that what I am doing is perfectly fine, but if it’s giving people the wrong message, it will hurt my testimony and the cause of Christ. This is the principle Paul was teaching in I Corinthians 8:13. Many new Christians had come from a background of idol worship. To them, the eating of meats offered to idols was wrong. While nothing inherently wrong with eating the meat, Paul refrained because he didn’t want to offend a brother in the faith. He weighed the consequences before he acted.
I Corinthians 8:13 “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”
We are never to do anything that violates our conscience or deliberately violates the conscience of another. James 1:6 says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” The gist is, “When in doubt, don’t!”
It is especially important that we obey all the laws and live peaceably with all men. Most of the time, we want what we feel are our rights. If we don’t like something, we justify it in our minds as okay.
We all face times when we are hurt or deal with what seems to us to be injustice. The question then becomes, who do we turn to and lean on when we are unsure which direction to take? Who can we rely on to serve justice when we desperately want to do so ourselves?
Romans 12:17-19 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
The phrase “but rather give place unto wrath” means to leave it to the wrath of God. It’s not our place to serve justice.
When we think of being just, we can’t overlook what justice means to us as Christians. We are guilty and deserve the punishment of hell, but when Jesus paid the price for our sins, he justified all who would place their faith in Him and repent. Therefore, we are entitled to all the blessings of the acquitted and justified. Our sins have been forgiven because they have been paid for, and we are reconciled back to God.
When you apply this to your thinking, think of the best you can do, not just what you can get by with or what others accept as ok. It is right to keep the laws of the land and let God handle the world’s injustice, but we must go further than the law. If we don’t, we are no better than the Pharisees. We must be governed by the law of love. I taught my boys to strive for what is good, better, and best. We are to protect our testimony because, with that, we are protecting the name of Christ.
We can praise God in good times and bad times, through successes and disappointments, because we know that He will set things right. We must rely on the mercy of the only One who is able to execute perfect justice.
Our response to betrayal and hurt should be to run to the Lord. He is the only one able to calm our fears, provide assurance, and promise us hope for redemption. When the going gets tough, we must rely on the mercy of the only one who can turn all that is upside down right side up. When we think about what is just, we must begin with God.
