In Isaiah, chapter three, verse fourteen, “The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of His people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.” God hates the mistreatment of the less fortunate in society. In the church, He makes members accountable for the way they treat one another. “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” God demands that we show love, justice, and compassion in our relations with others.
The concern here is not just the spoil of the poor, but overall about the demonstration of love, justice, and fairness towards one another in family, church, and employment relationships. If taken seriously, these verses would eliminate much of the unloving and unjust treatment of others within our homes and churches. Specifically, we learn that the mistreatment of others by Christians is a serious matter affecting our future glory in heaven. Those who treat others in love and goodness will receive a reward from the Lord. Anyone who mistreats and does wrong to another believer “shall receive for the wrong which he hath done.” The guilty will carry that wrong to judgment and bear the consequences without partiality.
The principle of future accountability to God should help motivate our love, kindness, and mercy toward all human beings. Let all believers keep in mind that God will hold His children responsible for the way they have treated one another. All believers must keep in mind how Jesus treated the poor. “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor,” as in Proverbs fourteen, verse thirty-one. Must not hurt the poor but must help them.