Justice and Compassion
Justice Is Waiting for You… Okay, Justin!
There is a quirky little movie I remember from years ago called Eagle vs. Shark. The main character has carried a decade-long grudge against a high school bully and finally decides he is going to settle the score. In one scene, he calls the bully to arrange their long-awaited fight. The bully isn’t home, so he leaves a message: “Could you tell him that justice is waiting for him?” The person on the other end writes it down: “Is waiting for you… okay, Justin!”
I quote that scene far more often than necessary. So when I began working on this message about justice, my immediate thought was, “Okay, Justin!”
But justice is no joke in Proverbs.
Throughout our Proverbial Summer, we’ve explored what a wise life looks like: integrity, humility, generosity, diligence, teachability, self-control, and guarding our hearts.
Much of that has been about who we are becoming.
But eventually Proverbs turns our attention outward. Wisdom isn’t only about becoming a good person. It’s about helping create a good world.
Wisdom Notices People
A wise person doesn’t simply ask: “Am I living a good life?”
They also ask: “Am I helping create a good world?” “Who is being overlooked?” “Who has less power than I do?” “Who needs someone to speak up?”
Proverbs repeatedly connects wisdom with how we treat people who have fewer resources, less influence, or less ability to advocate for themselves.
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
—Proverbs 14:31
That’s a remarkably strong statement.
How we treat people reveals something about how we feel about God.
Why?
Because every person bears the image of God.
There Are No Ordinary People
Every human being has inherent dignity—not because of their income, education, accomplishments, intelligence, usefulness, or social status.
Simply because they are human.
Period.
C.S. Lewis famously wrote that “there are no ordinary people.”
The person sleeping on the street bears God’s image.
The refugee bears God’s image.
The struggling single parent bears God’s image.
The isolated elderly person bears God’s image.
The person society overlooks bears God’s image.
And here’s the uncomfortable part:
We don’t get to decide who is worthy of dignity. God already decided.
When we begin seeing people through the eyes of Christ, we start noticing people we previously learned not to see.
It’s easy to care about people who can do something for us.
It’s harder when they can’t repay us.
That’s where compassion becomes costly.
Justice and Compassion Belong Together
Proverbs says:
“The righteous care about justice for the poor.”
—Proverbs 29:7
The Hebrew concept of justice, mishpat, involves making things right—ensuring people are treated fairly and given what is rightfully due.
Justice asks:
“Is this right?”
Not:
“Is this convenient?”
“Is this popular?”
“Does this benefit me?”
Justice and compassion belong together.
Justice says, “This is wrong and needs to change.”
Compassion says, “And these are real people who are hurting.”
Justice without compassion can become cold.
Compassion without justice can become shallow.
God calls us to both.
Speak Up
Proverbs 31 gives us one of the clearest calls to action:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Notice the language.
Speak up.
Sometimes silence isn’t neutral. Sometimes silence simply protects the person with power.
Wisdom notices the vulnerable—and does something about it.
That might mean defending someone being mistreated, creating opportunities for people who have been overlooked, standing beside someone who doesn’t have the power to stand alone, or simply making sure someone’s voice is heard.
We don’t have to solve every problem in the world.
But we can pay attention to the people God has placed around us.
We Never Know the Whole Story
When we encounter people who are struggling, our first instinct can sometimes be judgment.
“They should work harder.”
“They made bad decisions.”
“They should have known better.”
Sometimes people absolutely make poor choices.
But compassion reminds us that we never know the whole story.
Jesus consistently refused to reduce people to their worst decision, their social category, or their reputation.
He saw people.
Not problems.
Not projects.
People.
And that is what wisdom does.
Jesus: Justice and Compassion in Action
One of Jesus’ most famous stories makes this incredibly practical.
A man is beaten and left on the side of the road. A priest sees him and walks past. A Levite sees him and does the same.
Then a Samaritan comes along.
He sees.
He stops.
He cares.
He serves.
He pays.
And Jesus says:
“Go and do likewise.”
Compassion isn’t merely something we feel.
It’s something we do.
Jesus himself embodied this kind of life. He touched the untouchable, welcomed the rejected, defended the vulnerable, fed the hungry, healed the sick, and confronted hypocrisy.
And ultimately, the One who deserved justice experienced injustice so that people like us could receive mercy.
We have received His compassion.
Now He calls us to extend it.
What Does Wisdom Look Like?
So how do we live more justly and compassionately this week?
Notice people. Slow down enough to see the people others overlook.
Listen before judging. You probably don’t know the whole story.
Use your voice. Who might need someone to speak up?
Use your resources. Your money, time, skills, influence, and opportunities can become tools for blessing others.
And ask yourself:
Who gets my attention?
Who gets invited?
Who gets listened to?
Who gets a second chance?
Who might I be overlooking?
Because Proverbs doesn’t say:
“Feel sorry for those who cannot speak.”
It says: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
We’ve spent much of this summer talking about the inward work of wisdom—integrity, humility, self-control, teachability, and guarding our hearts.
And Proverbs reminds us:
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
Wise people notice people and show compassion as they work for justice. They are know for their mercy and care. Like the Good Samaritan…may we “go and do likewise”