Living in the Spirit
June 29, 2018
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,
‘The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.’ –2 Corinthians 8:12-15
Paul’s quote is from the story of Manna from Heaven provided for the Israelites in the desert:
But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. –Exodus 16:18
What is enough? Paul is suggesting that we have responsibility for assuring that all have enough to meet basic needs requiring some who have much to offset in some way the incomes of those who have too little. Today we do that in many ways. We make direct contributions of food, clothing, etc. Some of us own and operate businesses that choose to pay a living wage costing some of our profits while benefiting us by having a supply of competent, hardworking, dependable staff. Some of our governmental taxing systems support this idea by scaling taxation progressively based on income. Those who earn less pay a smaller percentage of their income in taxes.
MIT created and maintains a living wage calculator that attempts to define what is enough to provide for necessities*. It includes food, childcare, medical, housing, transportation, and other items which includes such things as clothing, housekeeping supplies, and personal care supplies. While the living wage minimum income needs far exceed the minimum wage and the poverty level in all family categories, it is very sparse. After calculating what various family categories require, it adds in the taxes they must pay. It does not include charitable contributions.
Why does it matter to Paul and to God in the Manna story that everyone has enough? God created the world as a whole system with each part interdependent with the other. For God’s world to function at its best all parts must function at their best. Such a system is built on the concept of love, wanting the very best for another. It supersedes any philosophy that structures the world toward personal gain at the expense of others. God’s system contributes to a steady state of shalom—wellbeing and peace for all. We pay a high price in lost shalom when we let greed undercut God’s design.
Prayer: God who provides enough, guide us in following your example in all aspects of our lives as we strive to assure that all your children have enough. Amen.
*http://livingwage.mit.edu/