Equality

I recall an Old Testament story about Israel collecting manna to consume each day. This was given to the Israelites by God to feed them in the wilderness. Imagine, just step outside and scoop up enough of the stuff for the day.( Exodus 16:18)

There were a few rules, however. You can’t take it with you, and you have to give away what you don’t need. That is, it would rot overnight so you could not store up any for the future, and if you had neighbors who were unable to pick up their own, you picked up extra and gave it to them to eat for that day.

You see, nobody had ever heard of manna from heaven before. Who would have thought up this method of feeding millions except God?

What were these people thinking about when they began to complain about the food? They finally get a steady diet (probably the best regular diet these people have had since then) and then complain about the taste!

But I digress.

Where am I going with this? Equality in God’s eyes.

The Apostle Paul writes to a wealthy Corinthian church about equality:

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. (II Corinthians 8:9-15)

The apostle is commending the church for their giving for the needs of others who lack. This is in the interest of survival and not intended to milk the wealthy to support the lazy. There were real problems facing some churches because of famine and other disastrous events that left them unable to provide the basics for living. I suppose that our modern welfare system was designed, at least initially, to function in just this way.

The reference to equality is an odd one: if you have too much of something, and I have too little of it to get by then at some point If I can give you something that you lack but I have in abundance, maybe we can both survive.

In this kind of process, no one can boast of having something that some one else has not obtained.

I like this thought. I believe it has tremendous spiritual importance.

Paul is emphasizing the example of God (He created everything that is, and still holds the patent) becoming flesh to save us. The fleshly Jesus had only a small fraction of that which this Spiritual being held before he became flesh. This is a spiritual result.

What could the destitute and starving congregation of another church have in abundance that the Corinthian church did not? They provided the Corinthian church the chance to give. What that wealthy congregation needed was to find the benefit given to them by God, by blessing those who needed their help.

And how is this spiritual?

Seek the Bible for any gift from God that is for your personal benefit only. Look for the scriptures that tell you that the Gifts of God are for you to give something to others, and compare them to those that tell of the gifts that are just for you to enjoy for yourself (if you can find any).

Every gift is from God and is to edify others. I believe that every act we may participate in under the influence of the Spirit of God is to provide to some other person a needed thing in their life. God does not promote spiritual selfishness any more than He promotes monetary selfishness.

Where then is the equality in that? Your needs will also be met. Your spiritual growth will continue. God will pour out upon you spiritual blessings you cannot contain. You need to grow; others need edification and support that the gifts of God provides them through you. Both of you will have the necessary things in your life that allow you to continue to live in the kingdom of God.

God is very smart.

Equality in the scriptures is not really about personal rights, it is often about equalizing the abundance of some with the need of others on a continuous rotating basis to keep everyone healthy in the kingdom. Those who will argue with God about the validity of this plan are those who want to be financially wealthy at the expense of helping the poor.

There is no argument even possible about the spiritual validity of this plan. All gifts come from God. He can give you an abundance to help His sheep. He can take it away.

We every one depend on Him.

If you seek to become powerful in the Spirit of God and in the kingdom, give away what you have. Give it to those who struggle, who are complacent, and who are troubled. Assist the ones who are confused or despondent. Give your gifts to edify the body of Christ.

Promote the well being of others and then watch as God loads you up with benefits that will cause you to grow ever stronger. That is equality in the kingdom of God.