v.13-15
"The Lord arises to contend, and stands to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people, 'It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the face of the poor?' declares the Lord God of hosts."
God goes on to punish the women of Israel by stripping them of their jewelry, bangles, expensive clothing, perfume, etc. and replacing those things with sackcloth, rope, putrefaction. I can't help but think that God is saying these same things to us in America. We truly have plundered the poor. Every time we buy something we don't need (and let's get it right what we really need--one plate of food, maybe 2 per day, 2 outfits, water, basic medical care, basic shelter over our heads), we plunder the poor. Every time we eat gluttonously, we rob the poor of what is rightfully theirs. I've heard the statistic several times and am hoping I'm remembering it correctly, but America (the U.S.) uses 40% of the world's resources while we (all of North America) only contain 7% of the world's population. We are so selfish! Do we not even stop to think that those suffering and dying around the world are doing so BECAUSE of our selfish pursuits, gluttony, and comfort?! Next time you go to grab something in the store that you don't need, think of the poor. Next time you see a homeless man on the street, think of the selfish things you've run after that day. Next time you hear about a disaster on the other side of the world that "doesn't affect me", think of the children scrounging helplessly and hopelessly for their next meal not knowing where their parents are. Next time you get a plea for help, stop...and make a sacrifice. After all, it's not much of a sacrifice when we have 33% more than what we need, is it?
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