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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Tragedy and Joy of Being "Used"

Nobody wants to be “used.” That word has such a bad connotation. Normally we think of it in terms of being exploited, taken advantage of, or trampled upon for the wicked pleasure of another.

The idea of slavery comes to mind. How inhumane can one be to buy another human being off the auction block, as if purchasing a piece of property?! And of course one of the darkest stains on this nation’s own history is our treatment of African Americans. Read some of the accounts of the slavery days and you’ll see that many of them were treated by their owners with less respect than their cattle and fields. Sometimes I wonder if we’ve really made any progress at all in our race relations.

Another practice that exemplifies the word “used” has to be the modern day practice of human trafficking. I’m not sure why they don’t call it slavery. Does saying “human trafficking” soften the public perception of this vile deed? Why is there no international outcry on behalf of those being forced into servitude and prostitution?

From teenage soldier-slaves in Uganda to entire families forced to work in South Asian factories without pay to child prostitution in Thailand, reports indicate that 27 million people around the world are enslaved today. By the way, the United States of America was included in the June 2010 U.S. Department of State report as being a nation who is not only a destination but also a source country for this evil practice.

And you can hardly watch the evening news these days without seeing the way some cruel dictator in the Middle East oppresses his people for the sake of his own gain. Through excessive use of violence and control, countless millions of people are suffering unimaginable hunger, pain and shame while being “used” to build another palace for their ruler.

Is it any wonder then that in the Bible God speaks out so emphatically against those who pervert justice and oppress the weak? The Holy God, whose very throne is founded on righteousness and justice, lovingkindness and truth (see Psalm 89:14), must absolutely agonize in grief and anger over the way we so selfishly “use” other people for our own purposes.

Isaiah records the word of the Lord: “Woe to those who enact evil statutes and to those who constantly record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans” (Isaiah 10:1-2).

God also declares through the prophet Malachi: “So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me, says the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 3:5).

Make no mistake: there will be a day when ultimate justice will prevail. Isaiah prophesies concerning the time when Jesus Christ will rule victoriously over all things as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. “He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” (Isaiah 9:7).

The Holy Spirit spoke through Paul saying, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man [Jesus] whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

That said, there's another thought about being used that brings joy instead of tragedy. My desire and my delight is to be so “used” by God for His good pleasure that I count my own life as nothing to me. For anyone who wishes to follow Christ, that must be our desire. To give our lives away for the sake of the One who gave His life for ours on the cross. To “do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). The King of kings beckons you with His loving-kindness. Do you want to be “used” in His glorious service?

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