Day 39 - Rich and Poor

My time of waiting on God has been in two stages today. I spent half of it in the middle of the night, where I spent most of it in prayer about various things and for people. This afternoon, as I sit here, I find myself meditating on the schism between the rich and the poor. 

We are each dealt a hand in life. We have no say in what circumstances we find ourselves in or what family we are born into; it is what we do with it that is important. I don't believe it was ever God's intention for any of us to suffer in the way that so many have done over the years throughout the world. OK, I know it's the 'free will'' argument over the people who question, 'How can there be a God of love if there is so much suffering in the world?' This is not the theme of my blog today. Rather, it is to do with the relationship between the rich and the poor.

Rich people sometimes blame the poor for being lazy when often it is simply not the case (as in a mother who has to hold down a day job and an evening job to keep her family alive) or they mistrust their motives (as in the recent publicity about benefit fraud). It is true we have to find a way of giving the poor dignity so that they are not just receiving free hand-outs but able to earn their way out of poverty, however, the rich need to understand the great leg up they have had by being born into a wealthier home. On the part of the poor, they sometimes greatly despise the rich: how much people have criticised the bankers, and the M.P.'s for using their expenses allowance unlawfully, when many people are happy to call off sick when they want a day off work or claim for more than they are due. 

We do have a very unequal society where people are valued by how much money they have, and greater academic results (and better schooling) is rewarded financially whereas hard working carers, shop assistants and manual workers earn so much less. How do we decide a person's worth? 

The Kingdom of God, although not a socialist democracy, is a place where all people are equal, all giftings are recognised and valued, and any who have money should bless those who are lacking. In this world at present we will have inequality, there will be the 'orphans and widows' just like there were in Jesus' day, children brought up in dysfunctional families who drop out of school, and those suffering from ill health who cannot work, but those of us who have money should be generous. And let us not despise the rich, but thank God for benefactors and those who are willing to use their money for good.