My son with Williams Syndrome, my wife and I were in attendance at
the biannual Williams Camp at Living Springs on the Port Hills of
Christchurch. While we were there a female presenter gave brief
seminar on the subject of “Enabling a Good Life.” She described
how there is a move toward bulk funding for people with disabilities.
She was very positive about this even though successive governments
have struggled to garner much interest in the proposal beyond the
pilot scheme. Mainly I suspect because placing all of the funds for a
disabled person in the hands of a parent or caregiver is no guarantee
that those funds will be spent on them. So even though it costs a
great deal to administer the current program and it is by no means
perfect it makes more sense to try to refine what we have rather than
change to a system with no checks and balances.
However, this discussion raises another question
along similar lines. Should our communities take responsibility for
the well being of the disadvantaged members of our society. Shall we
say the disabled, the mentally ill, and the poor. The reason I ask
this is because it is the subject of a famous interaction in the
bible. The parable of “The Rich Young Ruler.” in Matthew chapter
nineteen verses sixteen to twenty two.
Verse 16 And someone came to Him and said,
“Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal
life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what
is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into
life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which
ones?” And Jesus said, “You
shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not
steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor
your father and mother; and You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young
man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still
lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go
and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man
heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned
much property. NASB
Now a largely unseen aspect of this text is the
fact that those who ruled society in Israel in Jesus’ time were
become extremely selfish. You see under Jewish tradition the
community has a responsibility to care for the poor and less
fortunate members of society. The ruling class were seeking to take a
step away from this practice because it meant that the community had
to make physical and monetary resources available to assist these
poor people. If they didn’t care for them then it meant the rich
became significantly wealthier because they did not have to
contribute to the community. So this a major factor causing the
change in the Rich Young Ruler’s demeanor. He hoped to trick Jesus
into approving his lifestyle. That of the rich and influential.
However instead he received an instruction to care for the poor. The
very thing that the rich of Jesus period were seeking to detach
themselves from. Hence a sullen countenance and heavy footsteps.
To me this is entirely about community and the
need for Christian values. Secular values are rights based but have
no heart. There is a discussion of what might be fair or right but
there is no moral impetus to fulfill an obligation. We are after all
just matter and energy so even if we recognise a need to care for the
poor if we fail to meet the obligation and the poor perish it doesn’t
matter in the eternal arch of time immemorial.
Whereas in the Judeo Christian world view we are
our brother or sisters keeper. We have a genuine responsibility to
them and the existence of the poor or under-privileged is an affront
to our society before God. We are to ascribe resources to their care.
We believe that God expects us to care for those who cannot care for
themselves and to assist them to a position where they can eventually
care for themselves once more. Because they are our brethren before
God they are family and community. They are to be treated as such and
we are to make sure that they are looked after to the highest
standard.
Just as the Good Samaritan did with the person
that he came across on the road as related by Jesus in Luke chapter
ten verses thirty to thirty seven.
Luke 10: 30-37
Verse 30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him
and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance a
priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by
on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan,
who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt
compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring
oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought
him to an inn and took care of him. 35 On the next day he took out
two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of
him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’
36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the
man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37 And he said, “The one
who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do
the same.” NASB
In the nation of
Modern Israel wounded Syrians and Palestinians are given field
treatment and then transferred to hospitals throughout Israel for
first class treatment which is provided for free and under strict
conditions of anonymity because the lives of the patients and their
families could be endangered for even accepting such life saving
treatment from the enemy. This is the policy of the people of Israel
toward even their enemies and of course is the policy of bible
believing Christians toward their enemies also as directed by our
Lord Jesus in the book of Luke chapter six verses twenty seven to
thirty six.
Luke 6:27-36
Verse 27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good
to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those
who mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the
other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your
shirt from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and
whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Treat
others the same way you want them to treat you. 32 If you love those
who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those
who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what
credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend
to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same
amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting
nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be
sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil
men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. NASB
So if we have such love toward our enemies how
much more will we have love toward our community and family. How much
more love for our poor and disabled. So although it may be disparaged
as inefficient and ineffective by central government who wish only to
maintain total control of the social welfare system. It is the way of
Jehovah and should be the way of his people for the community to
gather around their disadvantaged and to lift them toward wellness
and prosperity in a spirit of love and generosity.
This is the way of
God.
Reference List
Ahronheim
A. Treating wounded Syrians who arrive in Israel is ‘holiest of
holy.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Treating-wounded-Syrians-who-arrive-in-Israel-is-holiest-of-holy-494602
02.02.2019
Charity (Tzedakah): Charity Throughout Jewish
History.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/charity-throughout-jewish-history
01.01.19
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