Bible Passage:  Micah 3

Looks like we’ve got a really short chapter today, filled entirely with monologue… Really searing and sharp monologue…

In today’s chapter, Micah was denouncing the leaders and prophets for the evil and injustice that they had been committing. This is also the last of the first three chapters in which he made judgments and warnings against specific groups of people.

It was a time of wealth and prosperity that even the rulers and the prophets began to carry out things with the ulterior motive to make some cash.

Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money…

–          Micah 3: 11

Because of all this, only those who could afford could seek justice, learn the law and obtain prophecies (which under those circumstances were most probably not from God). There was much injustice and evil-doing going on then, and of course, this did not please God at all. And thus, through the mouth of Micah, He spoke very harshly against those responsible.

However, this did not just happen during that time, but even during the New Testament times…

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

–          James 2: 1-4

Our God is not one who sees a person on the outside, and He is certainly not one to show any partiality towards any category of people. When He came down in the form of flesh, He came for the sake of everyone, whether rich or poor, and in the end, He died for everyone.

During the time of Micah, much partiality was given in the favour of those who could afford or those who were honourable in the eyes of man. And even in society today, we cannot deny that those who are more well-to-do, in terms of wealth and status, have it easier.

While we cannot really change those circumstances, we must be careful that such a culture does not exist in the church. Sure, we may have members who are better off than others in terms of status, wealth and/or health. But if we start to behave like how the church in the New Testament times (the one that Elder James rebuked), then we will not be any better than two examples.

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

–          James 2: 8-9

May we always love one another as we love ourselves, and that we look out for one another so that we can all finish the race and see one another in heaven…

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