Judges 5:23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.’

 

Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, of the late 1800s, developed a principle that is still observed widely today. The Pareto principle, sometimes called the 80/20 rule, says that 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. Applied to people, it’s generally held that 20% of the people in a given organization do 80% of the work. It seems to be true across the spectrum.

The Israelites had been ‘harshly oppressed’ for 20 years. Then God raised up a judge, Deborah, to lead them. After a great victory, she wrote a song. In the song we read today’s verse. Meroz appears to be a city in Israel whose inhabitants couldn’t be bothered to participate in the battle. They certainly would participate in the victory! They would enjoy the benefits of the hard-won freedom. Their actions, or rather, inactions, gained them a reputation. ‘The sin of Meroz’ is a description of apathy.

The church today is daily in battle. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Too often, the few in the church go ‘to battle’ for the many. The Pareto principle is sadly all too often on full display in God’s kingdom. We should ask ourselves, “am I part of the 20, or the 80?” The 20 are regular contributors in time, talent, and treasure. The 20 are the ones everyone knows can be counted upon. The 20 are on their knees in battle.

God won’t love you more for being in the 20, nor less for being in the 80. But doesn’t it say something about our love for Him? Wouldn’t it be great if the church was the one place that could prove Pareto wrong?

Blessings,

 

Pastor Russ