How people treat others matters. Relationships and attitudes toward others in the family, extended family, neighbors, colleagues, friends, strangers, and others are under God’s purview. David gives the principles by which God deals with people. (Psalm 18:25-27)
Mercy: The Lord taught a parable about the importance of showing mercy to others. The king forgave ten thousand talents (about 60 million/ 6 crore rupees) of a servant, but he could not forgive his colleague’s debt of one hundred denarii (about one hundred rupees); instead threw him in jail. (Matthew 18: 23-35) The king, knowing this, summoned him back and put him in prison. All wish to receive mercy, but do not demonstrate the same mercy to others. Arrogant, ruthless, and wicked do not show mercy to others; if they do not repent and continue in their rebellious ways, God will not show mercy to them either.
Blameless: God is a covenant-keeping God. Those who break covenants, contracts, promises, and trust will be punished. The breaking of the marriage covenant is adultery. Breaking of contracts, trust in the business, and other financial dealings will invite God’s wrath. False balance, under-values invoices, kickbacks, bribery…are all abominations to the Lord. (Proverbs 11:1) Disciples should be blameless to qualify for leadership. (Titus 1:6)
Pure: Blessed are those who are pure in their hearts, minds, and lives. They will see God. (Matthew 5: 8) Their thoughts are noble, and their emotions are pure. But impure are those with criminal thoughts, violent thoughts, haughty thoughts, and adulterous thoughts.
Right and straight: Those who are crooked could experience God being torturous to them. Crooked people do not have righteous or good thoughts. Their ways are not straight, but shortcuts and undesirable ways. Crooked people are deceptive, destructive, exploitative, and manipulative in their relationships.
Humble: God brings comfort to the humble and terror to the arrogant and proud. Like the water flows to the lowest level, God’s grace flows towards the humble hearts. Pride goes before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
Do I shine as light, pure and blameless, among the crooked generation? (Philippians 2:15)