Subtitle: Stewards of Power and Privilege
I feel like I might add some further clarity to what I said in the last post, The Lazarus Lesson. In an effort to keep it short, I didn’t include many of my values and understandings on the subject. That can lead to inaccurate assumptions and to misunderstandings.
So, here are some points I’d like to add in an attempt to be more open with what I am taking away from the story of Lazarus and the rich man:
This story is meant for anyone with power and privilege. And, at some level, that is literally anyone.
The power and the privilege of determining whether, or not, someone deserves my notice and is worthy of my generosity is possibly the ultimate test of my integrity and character.
I don’t believe that Jesus was implying that having more wealth than someone else is an evil. His point was that the rich man was pampering himself while oblivious to a suffering person right at his door.
Church-sponsored aid or publicly-funded social assistance, either one, is not always helpful and has actually been devastating in some cases. A simplistic response to very complex social need is usually harmful. Many social assistance programs have been designed to reward irresponsibility, to create dependencies, or to destroy initiative, dignity and identity. Those should be redesigned or discontinued after learning what will actually fill the need.
I feel that Jesus was teaching that our responsibility begins with the needs that are right before us, within arm’s length. I don’t believe he commissioned us to eradicate poverty on a global scale, or to see that all wealth is distributed equally.
I don’t understand from this story that rich, stingy people are all sentenced to hell while poor, suffering people are all destined for paradise. I do understand that there are serious consequences to withholding provision when we have the means and the immediate opportunity to relieve someone’s suffering.
I don’t understand that I must deny myself every pleasure or luxury while any suffering or humanitarian need remains. Every individual with even as little as a crust of bread must make the decision to either eat it, save it, or give it away.
Stewards of Power and Privilege: The power and the privilege of determining whether, or not, someone is worthy of my care and worthy of my generosity is possibly the ultimate test of my integrity and character.