I've been thinking about disparity of wealth and resources recently. Not that this is something I haven't thought about before (obviously given my line of work), but it's just been hitting me again. I'm not sure I can quite process what I'm thinking about this, but I've been seeing people around town who obviously do not have much and have been thinking too of the inequity in the situations we are born into. I've got a carte blanche to travel the world because of my passport, do not need to worry about food, clothes, shelter, (or anything else really) because of my economic status, and do not need to fear poverty because of my education and ability to earn a salary and because of my network (family and friends). Mostly, I am able to live without bogging myself down too deeply in this (because I would be seriously worthless functionally if I thought about it too much, too often)- I know that God cares for everyone and that I cannot take on everyone's burdens, but my heart hurts at the need and injustice too.
Like I said, I don't really have anything clear or deep to add to this discussion, but I was wondering if any of you would comment (or email me) on how you have coped with being on the wealthy side of disparity in your lives. Social workers- how do you handle having opportunities that your clients don't- overseas workers- how do you handle unequal power in your relationships, etc. I'd love your thoughts.
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4 comments:
Hey C - we've often struggled w/ this as well (not like it's over) - what we've found in Indo is that even though we live simply, we will always be wealthy here. What we're working thru is not how to seem non-wealthy (cuz we can't) but how to be a "good" wealthy person here in this society. That means being out amongst our community & loving on them regularly & at least here - being generous as a wealthy person is huge. Generosity comes in several forms - giving what's needed - a smile, a ride on our bike, & even $ when appropriate...appreciate your heart as we're right there w/ ya
thanks J&E- that's a good thought
Every year I try to take a personal retreat. Several years ago, I booked a hotel room for the retreat, but when I got there, they had overbooked- or for some reason, the room wasn't available and they upgraded me, free of charge into a lovely two room suite. So, during that retreat, I hit some Bible passages that talked about wealth, poverty, etc. and this issue came up- while I"m reclining on a lovely sofa overlooking the ocean. I was feeling guilty in this situation- my relative wealth (to the rest of the world) and this comfortable place. And God spoke through the passages about His delight in showering his people with Himself, his gifts and his love. Any my response was to accept his gifts and not feel guilty. God delights in his creation and gives appropriate gifts to all of us- He chooses to give less materialistic gifts to those living in poverty- but all his gifts are treasures.
My next response of course is to be as generous as i am able with others around me and to acknowledge God as the giver of all- including my wealth.
Finally, I think that one of the issues around feeling guilty for our wealth touches on the idea that the wealth is ours and that we earned it- and that wealth is something important, a goal to attain. Perhaps whenyou are in 3rd world countries, you can continue to turn the world views upside down, as Jesus did- consider your wealth as a gift from God, of equal value to other gifts He gives us; realize that material wealth is fleeting and of no real consequence, and be as generous with your gifts as the people you meet are generous with their gifts.
hope this helps.
The problem of disparity of wealth is that it is an impossible problem.
Even if you live in a poor country and live in a mud hut, you are not in the same situation because you have family and friends who will come and get you if you are in trouble. Even if you cut yourself off from all bank accounts and family and friends, you have an education that makes you wealthy.
I like what anonymous said about receiving good gifts from God. We are created to be sensual people and we live in a sensual world. So there are many delights in our lives. Not to be thankful for these is to be ungrateful to our creator.
We are meant to be grateful for sensual things without desiring them. One of the many tensions in the Christian life.
How do we deal with the fact that so many people live difficult lives? Most people for most of time have lived difficult lives. We who live lives where we do not have to worry that someone richer and more powerful than we are will come and take our property or our daughters for their own enjoyment are a small privileged percentage of the population of the world for all of time.
The question is far larger than we normally allow ourselves to think. How does God deal with the enormity of the suffering and injustice in the world?
I think the problem is that we are too materially focused. Because of this, we see the problem from a temporal point of view.
From heaven's perspective, I suspect the good things on earth are not quite as good and the bad things on earth are not quite as bad.
From a temporal point of view, it is an enormous question. From an eternal point of view it is not such a big question.
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