It’s become all too familiar to scroll through YouTube shorts and stumble upon
ads touting lucrative settlements for recent accident victims; “If you’ve been in an
accident recently…you may be eligible for a six-figure settlement!” Similarly, law firms
dominate roadside billboards, offering help to those affected. While seeking
compensation for wrongdoing is essential, it raises questions: have we reached a point
where plaintiffs and law firms are capitalizing on misfortune rather than genuinely
seeking justice? Is the pursuit of compensation becoming a cynical means of exploiting
unfortunate events?
Consider this scenario: if you were injured in an accident, what would be your
guiding principle? Would you focus on holding the responsible parties accountable and
seeking fair restitution for your injuries and expenses? Or would you shift your attention
to finding the best legal representation to maximize your settlement, potentially blurring
the lines between justice and financial gain?
In Genesis 34 we meet Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob mentioned in the Bible.
Being Leah’s youngest daughter, born a couple of years after the first six brothers,
Dinah was the only drop of water in an ocean of masculinity. She visited the women of
Shechem, but the prince of the land took her and raped her. Simeon and Levi, her elder
brothers, severely scathed by this atrocity against their little jewel, sought revenge
against the city and put to the sword all the men. It fascinated me that they did not stop
there; they also carried away all the women, children and livestock “taking as plunder
everything in the houses” (v. 29).
The true motivations behind their actions become unclear by the end of the
account. It seems that their quest for justice for Dinah’s sake and for the sin against
Israel may have been intertwined with a desire to exploit the situation. The potential for
material gain appears to have played a role in their decision-making. Moreover, Jacob’s
response is astonishing, icing the cake. He laments,
“You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious
to the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the people living in this
land. We are few in number and if they join forces against
me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
Jacob’s primary concern was his own security, as he feared potential retaliation
from neighboring nations. However, he appeared surprisingly unconcerned about the
excessive and brutal force his sons exerted against the people of Shechem, showing no
signs of remorse for their disproportionate actions. In other words, Jacob was game with
the plunder had there been no threat to his life and posterity.
In many developing nations, suing someone is theoretically an option, but in
practice, it’s rarely pursued. The reasons are numerous: the expense of legal action
often exceeds any potential compensation; pro-bono government services are scarce;
and perhaps most importantly, the outcome often hinges on personal relationships and
influence — who has connections within the justice system or government circles.
The Western legal system, upon scrutiny, seems to foster a culture of litigation.
The threat of “I’ll sue you!” is frequently invoked. Remarkably, even relatively minor
incidents, such as dog bites, can yield substantial financial compensation, while more
severe cases, like physical assaults, can result in significant payouts, including legal
residency. The lure of financial gain has tempted some, even professing Christians, to
exaggerate or feign injuries and emotional distress, leading to lawsuits over seemingly
trivial issues.
Dear brethren, forgiveness is the cornerstone of Christianity. Paul writes, “Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you” (Eph. 4:32). In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught, “Forgive us our debts, as
we also have (not may or will) forgiven our debtors.” (Matt. 6:12). Jesus said that
forgiveness is 70 times 7 in a day for just one person. In stark contrast, the Western
legal system encourages us to sue one person 70 times 7, if possible, in one day. Like
Simeon and Levi, even believers are getting away with the plunder today. How different
are we from them? The other challenge is that the ‘Jacob figures’ of our day, being so
concerned about their welfare, have also lost the moral authority to reprove of such
sinful actions.
Finally, it cannot go without mentioning that this article is not meant to undermine
the value of pursuing justice when we are wronged. Rather, it seeks to call to scrutiny
our motivations; when we decide to take legal action, what drives us? Are we wielding it
as a weapon of oppressing the gullible, gluttonously pursuing plunder or genuinely
seeking justice and reparation? Let us scrutinize our intentions and ensure that our
actions align with a commitment to fairness, rather than self-interest or exploitation —
with Christ at the center of it all.