Gasp! Share the Wealth?
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The progressive governments of the world are anxiously trying to emulate the Israelites, in gradation in taxation. This has raised the temperature of some of the critics of various administrations. Various negative words are enlisted in an effort to cast the section of the people that cannot get so much, as being dead weight that should be eliminated. This is not a positive approach to congregational living, in the LORD.
Now, we must admit that there is no shortage of devious people, to lend a measure of truth to some of the criticism. For instance, in the case of the “welfare queens”; these are people that have decided to steal from others, through certain loopholes that are not supervised properly. Unfortunately, some of these loopholes cannot be supervised to a level that would stop the cheats, without harming the people who actually need the benefits. The LORD’S servant, Nehemiah, was beset by this type of behavior. However, since he had the support of the LORD, he was able to see, and close, the loophole.
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest.
Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.
And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD.
And the people did according to this promise.
(Nehemiah 5:1-13)
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Continue Navigating Higher Socialism: Part Seven
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