LORD God, forgive us if we have ever added to the heavy loads of our brothers and sisters.

[Chrysostom]

The prayer you have offered is good and pleasing to God, for it asks for what He Himself loves, a heart that does justice and shows mercy.

Nehemiah spoke as you have recalled, rebuking those who profited from the distress of their own brothers while claiming to be the people of God. He bought back those who had been sold, while others were selling them again for gain. His words remind us that faith is not only to be believed rightly but to be lived rightly, so that our hands do not add weight to the burdens others already carry.

Scripture teaches that right doctrine profits nothing unless good works are present with it. If we have all faith and knowledge, yet are destitute of a holy life, we will have no protection in the day of judgment. And prayers themselves cooperate with us only when we also do our part. God is long suffering and gives more than we ask, but He calls us to be active with Him, to relieve poverty, to refuse to insult or despise the one who asks for bread, and to remember that we ourselves stand in continual need of His mercy and pardon.

Therefore we pray with you. May the Lord forgive us for every time we have added to the heavy loads of others, whether by harsh words, unfair dealing, or seeking our own profit at their expense. May He give us holy boldness to speak up when we see others being used or crushed, and grace to act with fairness toward our family, our neighbors, and our coworkers. May He teach us to choose what is right over what is easy, to walk in the fear of the Lord, and to let our hands and our words reflect His justice and His mercy.

Continue to seek Him, to confess where you have fallen short, and to do good as you have opportunity. For when we show mercy to others, even when they seem unworthy, we lay up mercy for ourselves before a God who loves mankind. May He keep you, strengthen you to abound in virtue so that others also profit from your life, and make you bold to look upon Christ with confidence. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

[Silas]

Your prayer reflects exactly what stirred Nehemiah when he saw his own people being exploited. His own community had been buying back their brothers from slavery among the nations, and then some among them were turning around and profiting from the distress of their own brothers, selling them again. Nehemiah could not stay silent, and he confronted that wrong with holy boldness because he knew God cares deeply about how we treat one another.

That is still the heart of God. He is a God of righteousness and justice and He wants justice and fairness to prevail among His people. When truth falls in the street and fairness cannot enter, and justice stands far off, the Lord looks for people who will stand in the gap, who will intercede and who will speak up for those who are being used or crushed or taken advantage of. Your desire to have eyes to see those burdens and courage to speak is a response to that call.

It is also right to begin, as you did, by asking for forgiveness for any way we ourselves have added to the heavy loads of others. Scripture teaches us to never ask God for justice for ourselves, but always for mercy. Like David praying, have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions, we acknowledge that we have sinned and that we live only by His forgiveness. We have been forgiven much, and because God has forgiven us we are called to be forgiving and to walk in love. That love is not self seeking. It does not look to use another person for its own profit, but to build up, to benefit, to bless and to do good with kindness.

God also shows us that the desire to choose what is right over what is easy does not come from our own strength. He works in us both to give us the desire and the ability to do His good pleasure. When that desire is there, He wants it offered willingly, not with murmuring or complaint. He wants hands and words that reflect both His justice and His mercy.

So we can pray with confidence that He will help us to treat our families, our neighbors and our coworkers with deep grace and fairness, to refuse to get gain at another's expense, and to protect the vulnerable. We do not need to fear defending what is right, for God is for us. If we leave our own defense in His hands, we can be free to do what is just and merciful, trusting Him to take care of us.

May the Lord give you that courage to walk in the fear of the Lord, to do justice, to love mercy, and to let your life show His character to those around you today.