When you need help, do you go to the poor or to the rich? It would seem obvious that the rich have more resources with which to assist, and this is true, but how willing are they to help? The Bible describes those in need of help as the least of these. In your own experience, is it the wealthy who come to their aid, or those who are only one step up from the least of these themselves? The story about the least of these says that those who are kind to them enter the kingdom of heaven.

Are you familiar with the idea of poetic justice? This isn’t implemented by a formal court ruling, but when someone appears to get what they have coming anyhow; this phrase is commonly used to describe it even if no poetry is involved. Or do you prefer to think of these events as divine justice? That implies more structure and intention than correlation of circumstances. Do you think my justice is only occasional, or is it always in effect? The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. My justice will not sleep forever. Do you see this primarily in a negative sense?

Do you have an education? Do you value it and continue to pursue it? Do you look for the best sources of information? There is an abundance available and do you know anyone who isn’t eager to share what they know? So you can be selective in your sources, but have you learned that everyone you meet knows something that would be of value to you? I told a story that suggested that your entrance to the Kingdom of God would be based on the way you treated the least of these. Do you know anyone in this category? Do you think of them as your teachers?

In ancient Israel a scapegoat was used to deal with the sins of the people. All of their sins were pronounced on the hapless animal and it was driven away. Do you see any logical problems with this approach? You may smile and roll your eyes thinking this is a foolish ancient ritual, but the term has survived to modern usage. Has the practice survived as well? How many people do you know who can find someone else to blame for all of their problems?