The sacred writings of Judaism point toward a society devoid of poverty.
Consider this short meditation from Deuteronomy 15:4-5:
However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
Right -a society in a historical context, during the time it was writtn. I believe your inference is otherwise and mistaken.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it was written for the Children of Israel, if it were applied today it would go a long way to eliminate poverty.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me what we say and do to try and make the word of God void. Our selfishness causes us to reject what is said in in this passage. Because to obey it just might mean, that we have to give up something so that someone else could do better.
ReplyDeleteMy son should never make a C in school. Sometimes he puts forth a little effort and makes an A, other times he has to be pushed and cajoled into bringing in a D. Why won't he try like his sister does?
ReplyDeleteLeslie, that is rather a naive way of looking at it.
ReplyDeleteThe words poor and blessing don't always represent our money and possessions.
ReplyDeletePoor in this passage has to do with being in want, the needy, oppression and abuse and the deliverance from trouble. So, when this passage is asking us to be obedient in following the commands of God, it just means we are in a place to help someone. Maybe motivate them, encourage them, connect them to what it is or whom they need. Maybe just blessing them with a testimony of how we made it over. It possibly could mean giving of our time, our compassion and empathy. Ultimately it is asking us to give of ourselves.
Not everyone in this world wants someone to give them something monetary. Most would love to do it themselves. If we would only look a little deeper.
Christians could learn a lot from Jews . . .
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