Combining Resources – Part 9: Readings – 3
Many of us try to find private solutions to the problem of scarce resources. We attempt to beat inflation by sending more members of the family to work. We try to stem the rising rate of crime by fortifying our homes with locks and weapons. We try to guard against catastrophic costs of serious illness by demanding more fringe benefits from our employers. We may even hoard food staples or fuel against the day when they will be unavailable in the open market.
But, as we have seen before, private solutions tend to exacerbate public problems. Hoarding diminishes the general supply; private health insurance allows medical costs to keep rising; the fortress approach to crime further isolates individuals from the public connectedness which could curb crime; growth in private purchasing power among those who already have enough only stimulates the inflationary cycle. Private solutions to the problem of scarce resources only make the resources scarcer. The greater the scarcity, the more tense becomes the public scene. And the more tense the public, the more difficult it becomes for people to look together for public solutions.
I do not think we can exaggerate the extent to which affluent Americans are caught in this vicious circle. It is said that if the earth were a global village of one hundred people, six of them would be Americans, and those six would have over one-third of the village’s income. In such a village everyone would be aware of this fact; what impact would that awareness have on peoples’ behavior? The ninety-four people who had to subsist on two-thirds of the income would surely be furious at the remaining six. And the six would surely be afraid of having their possessions, if not their lives, taken from them. The six would be unlikely to participate fully and freely in the public life. Instead, they would arm themselves, hide away as best they could, and develop elaborate rationalizations or avoidance mechanisms to deal with their “Good fortune.” And that is exactly what well-to-do Americans have done, not only in relation to the Third World but also with their neighbors in poverty here at home.
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The Company of Strangers, Parker J. Palmer, Crossroad, pages 93-94.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
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For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
