By Bob Burroughs
This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. (Isaiah 6-9, The Message)
Life in the fast lane is mighty appealing these days. Fast-lane living has always been tempting — even in biblical times. Almost everyone alive desires to have more money, influence, time, better cars, bigger homes, larger pensions, but in most instances, being willing to pay the price for these sometimes leads to personal disaster. The family can be torn apart, the desire for more and more results in more than one can handle and life doesn’t end the way one hoped.
Isaiah sure had some thoughts that are different than what is happening in our world today. Think on these things that he discussed in the above Scripture:
• Break chains of injustice
• Get rid of exploitation in the workplace
• Free the oppressed
• Cancel debts
• Share food with the hungry
• Clothe those without anything to wear
• Invite homeless people into your homes
• Be available to your own family
The last one got me. Many times in my early life and career, I was not available to my family when they needed me. I deeply regret this and have tried since coming to that realization to do better, to be there for them when needed and to support them in every way possible. Now I have additional joy in being there for my grand ones.
Remember this from Isaiah: Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer.
This is quite a promise: God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer.
Our world would be vastly different if we too heeded the advice and pleadings of Isaiah and did even one or two of the things on his list.
Let’s get out of the fast lane!
Food for thought: “The trouble with life in the fast lane is: you get to the other end in an awful hurry!” (John Jensen)