Which would you rather live in, a world where the poor pay for the rich, or where the rich pay for the poor?
PICTURE: Alexander Grey/Unsplash
For most of history the poor have paid for the rich. That is, the rich lived off the poor – servants, slaves, tax, rent.
Christianity challenged that and called on the rich to lift up the poor; to subsidise them; to provide a safety net for them.
If we think wealth is earnt – fair reward for hard work – and poverty a result of laziness, we would feel justified in not wanting to share with others.
But we know this isn’t true. Lots of poverty is random, and lots of wealth inherited and lucky.
Better to live in a gracious, compassionate world where the rich lift up the poor, than a vicious world where the poor carry the rich.
Which do you choose?
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
