Sharing wealth is a hot political topic in the US news lately. That is because the balance of wealth curve of the extremely rich one percent in comparison to the poor or middle class has become more skewed in the past thirty years. This subject seems to have existed 3000 years ago and throughout history and may have contributed to the rise and fall of many past civilizations. I surmised in a novel excerpt what King Solomon may have answered his views to the Queen of Sheba about sharing wealth. The novel is a contemporary application of a story form to promote understanding of proverbs and ancient wise sayings in relation to our modern times.
“A perfect community you say? I saw beggars in your streets and your people dressed in fine clothing ignoring them as they walked passed them. I am beginning to wonder if you are some kind of dreamer that does not recognize the reality that surrounds you as you expound your wisdom.”
“Bilqis, I too have the same problems of the wealthy not willing to share. The course I have taken is to teach and promote wisdom to my people. Wisdom to understand that sharing wealth is pleasing to our God, for we all are creatures of his making. The rich need to lead and use their wealth with actions of kindness to benefit the poor. Those that act oppressively against the poor insult their maker. Anything you do to oppress your brother will insult rather than honor his maker.” He who oppressed a poor man insults his maker, but he who is kind to a poor man honors him. (Proverb 14:31)
“What we must also recognize is that God’s order made all creatures to live side by side. The wealthy must have compassion for the poor and the hungry. The poor must not envy the rich. The rich must not boast their wealth over the poor. If you look over the dwellings in Jerusalem, you will see many various differences in structures and size standing alongside one other. As long as righteousness prevails in the community, this arrangement is possible.”
“The problem to avoid between the rich and poor is when the rich believe that they are better than the poor, or the poor envy and steal from the rich. Then the rich will separate themselves from living amongst the poor. When wealth separates people, the community will divide and weaken in time. There may be a difference in wealth amongst people, but our God has created both rich and poor for a reason.” Rich and poor live side by side, Yahweh makes them all. (Proverb 22:2)
Source:
As A Lily Among Thorns – A Story of King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the Goddess of Wisdom by Rudy U Martinka
Now available as an eBook at all sellers. View at link below.
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