A good answer
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
The Talmud.
I firmly believe our society is going down hill. That those in our governments are listening more to lobbyist than the people many times. I feel that our political leaders firmly believe that giving big tax cuts to the rich and a few dollars to poor will help make a difference.
We only have to look around to see that it isn’t working. I just heard a statistic the other day that said reliance on food banks here in Canada is on the rise. This in one of the richest countries in the world.
The average person is quite willing to reach into his or her pocket and give to a needy cause. Giving by individuals seems to be up.
I firmly believe our leaders are blind however to the needs of the poorest in our society.
Case in point the fight in the United States over universal health care. The U.S. is the only country in the western world without a government run universal health care. Something that while admittedly expensive has worked well in all the countries that have it.
From a moral point of view universal health care is just right. It is a basic human right. It shouldn’t be treated like a commodity.
Why shouldn’t the poorest of society have the same health care benefits as the leaders of the country most of whom are millionaires.
Where I live in Canada, while our health care is better than the US. There are still some very expensive gaps. Drugs that are not covered. Essential treatments and procedures that the government insurance will not cover. Yet our politicians have gold plated insurance plans paid for by tax payers that cover it.
Why should this be. If all people are equal why aren’t government benefits equal.
What better way to spend tax dollars than directly on the health and welfare of the people of the country.
Likewise men women and children are going hungry and living in shelters some even living on the street. This in countries that are among the richest in the world.
It’s not that the poor are asking for a hand out. They are asking for a help up. I know many people living below $20,000.00 even $15,000.00 a year.
Yes these people are covered by government health insurance in Canada and most are even covered by provincial drug plans. Dental care however is a luxury. As are certain often essential medical procedures.
While some have medical problems and cannot work. Others are working quite often at two jobs and still at the end of the week have to decide on food, or paying rent or utilities.
This should not be so.
Over the years our governments have given billions of dollars to private industry to create jobs. They’ve given tax breaks to companies to stay in their jurisdiction and keep jobs in place yet they eventually move on.
They complain the minimum wage is too high at $10.00 and hour. But a person cannot live adequately on ten dollars and hour I’m willing to say anywhere in North America.
The Jews have something called Tzasakah. One Jewish site describes it like this,
Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.”
I believe we all have a duty to the poor of our society. I believe those in a position of power will be held to a higher account of themselves before God, be they politicians or business leaders, crowned heads of government or religious leaders.
Jesus said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-46.
This Christmas season especially we need to be helping the poor more than ever and not with just giving a few dollars as noble that may be. We should be contacting our politicians and those in power to provide more for the poorest in our society.
I like the Jewish idea of tzedakah.
One of their religious leaders put in order the various levels of tzedakah it goes like this,
Giving begrudgingly
Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours
Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.
Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant.
Tony Campolo wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
Think about it.
