Digging Ditches
…those rich people need to give us some of their money… pay their fair share.
Fair share—fair share, we hear that cry almost everywhere nowadays. It usually goes with taxes and the ‘rich’. This is an interesting thought that no one really thinks about what they are saying or thinks about what it means.
First off no one ever thinks they are part of the problem, they aren’t part of the rich so it’s always someone else who needs to pony up and pay up.
Those who coined the phrase do know what they are saying. When they say the rich need to pay their fair share, there is an agenda behind it. These people know even though they are part of the rich they aren’t wanting for themselves to pay, only other people.
They point the finger at others in order to draw the attention of others away from their situation.
As an adult and as a parent how many times do we hear children moan that’s not fair? My response as a parent has been life isn’t fair. And it isn’t, but now as adults, we are asked to suspend what we know to be true, and become as little children and cry because life should be fair?
In the words of the ancient and now deceased, Jackie Gleason, what a revolting development this is.
In answer, there are several questions that come to mind. I think that most of us who have an entrepreneurial bent, and that goes for most small business owners, if we apply ourselves and one of our ideas does hit the jackpot and we make our fortune, we have earned our money. We’ve put in the long hours, taken the risk of putting our money in jeopardy, all of these things. Instead of the snake of jealousy raising its ugly head others should be impressed and cheerlead for the winners.
This isn’t what happens though. Instead of being inspired and thinking, wow, I can do that…we have whiners that say things like, they stole that money, life isn’t fair those rich people need to give us some of their money… pay their fair share.
There are some subtle other snakes that wind their way into the lives of current day life. For instance, we are told if a wife works outside the home it is incumbent upon the husband to help her with the housework. I thought this was the fair thing for years until I heard a Christian woman speaker for ladies point out nowhere does scripture allude to such a thing. Women are to be the ‘Keepers at home’ and just because they choose to work outside the home doesn’t change that directive.
I had not thought of that but it is true. There are many nuances with that and I’m not chasing them. However, that was a caveat, not my point.
To a case, I read of wherein the husband and wife agreed to split the household chores and they agreed who would do which chores. The wife became incensed when the husband instead of physically doing the chores himself hired a person to come in and do them for him.
Two questions here, why and why? It wasn’t dishonest of him, so why did she get angry? As long as he could afford it, my thinking is how genius? Second, maybe his wife could hire her half done as well?
At one time it was customary to hire help. It wasn’t unheard of for families to hire a cook to help the wife, and sometimes it wasn’t unheard of to hire other help. And that was before women worked outside the home.
Fair share, fair share, reminds me of the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The workers are hired at different hours, yet at the end of the day, they are all paid the same wage. I know it isn’t speaking to the idea of a fair share in the same light as this writing but in some ways it is. As the householder told the workers, friend, I do thee no wrong…why do we think we are owed something by someone just because they have wealth? It is truly an evil eye when we look at others lusting after what they have. It’s called covetousness. And this is its fruit:
Genesis 4:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Matthew 20:
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
