Someone out there with an agenda, (a very highly self-serving agenda) has decided what is the definition of poor and rich. So, now we go down a long complicated road of complaining and coveting.
Corporations are just not taxed enough. What you buy is not taxed enough. Workers are not paid enough. Where is all this magic money going to come from?
Are you fed up with it as I am? Why do we promote anger and distrust of each other? If you're not a part of my political party you are ill informed, maybe even blind. Yes, both side are full of their own delusions.
I like the term “covet” because it sounds like an outdated word, but it is very relevant throughout these discussions. Because if you're not “giving til it hurts,” you are selfish. And if you are feeling deprived you should rightfully take from someone else who makes “obscene profit.” There we go again deciding that someone makes too much money. This means it's perfectly okay to be jealous of your neighbor and harbor feelings of resentment.
God really pinpointed our sinful nature. He didn't just throw in that commandment about coveting for no reason. "Thou shalt not steal" is an awesome commandment, but God knew we needed to recognize how we likely nurture the desire to steal through coveting.
Let's take a look at what creates coveting? Too much idle time to obsess about other people probably creates a covetous nature. Also, a foolish, careless attitude snowballs into bad outcomes that do not happen overnight. Perhaps being spoiled as a child, too?
While we are taught to bear one another's burdens, it has been conveniently left out of modern bible talk that we should not purposely become a burden to others. Yikes. How did I get to be so uncaring? Didn't Jesus teach us about “tough love?”
Take the book of Matthew, Chapter 25. The parable of the foolish virgins shows how we should not purposely become a burden to others and expect to be taken care of. The foolish virgins did not plan ahead and take extra oil for their lamps. The wise virgins took along their own extra oil because they could not predict when the bridegroom would arrive.
What were the foolish virgins thinking? Did they think the bridegroom couldn't possibly take very long to appear? Patience is a virtue, too.
And next, the foolish virgins seemed to expect the wise virgins to fix it for them. This was an important time to judge the situation and be prudent. I know we are told in modern bible talk that we should virtually judge nothing anymore. But these wise virgins knew they did not have enough oil if they gave it up. It's like a recipe for cake. If you only have half the eggs and sugar and proceed anyway, it's not going to be cake.
Now the foolish virgins were coveting. “We want some of your oil.” Their unspoken words could have been saying, “We know you'll share because it's the nice thing to do. You have more than enough ( AKA: more than you need, obscene profits).”
The wise virgins suggested the foolish virgins go to the nearest merchant and buy more oil. And while they went away from door, they missed the bridegroom's arrival and were locked out of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thou shall not steal also comes to mind. A thief can try to connive a kind person who wants to be helpful. It's the oldest trick in the book. Lazy people prey on loving people hoping to lie to get something they want. “I will pay you back. I'll never do it again. I've learned my lesson, honey. No more gambling, drinking, cheating, etc. I'm just lucky to have you so I can take this shortcut and not be required to do something for myself.”
Jesus said:
Therefore, stay awake,* for you know neither the day nor the hour.
In the next parable in Matthew, Chapter 25, a servant who did nothing with his master's talents was thrown out into the darkness where he could wail and grind his teeth.
And Jesus himself said:
For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Our own master, Jesus, gives each one of us talents and he hates to see us waste them.
I cannot predict how the election will turn out. I have no idea if the new president will inspire the country to strive for holiness to serve God rather than man. We will be waiting to see what kind of bills will be rolled out by the Congress.
We owe it to ourselves, each other, and God, to not make a mess of things here on earth. We should keep our “sin meters” well primed so we can correct our bad decisions before they blow up into huge problems that divide the country.
Jesus also said in Matthew Chapter 25:
‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
We shouldn't look down on ourselves as helpless and blame others in politics. We shouldn't argue which party is more evil. We need to take care of ourselves and not be a burden to others. We need to stop our sinful foolishness and trust that God didn't waste his time creating us. While evil does exist, we must not get sucked into evil with smooth talking arguments that lead us into resentment, jealousy, and coveting.
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