Fairness, Redistribution of Wealth and The Bible

by Mike Shaw

Fair is where you take your pig

A good friend of mine has a saying, “Fair is where you take your pig.”  It was first uttered by her daughter and out of the mouth of a child a Biblical concept is explained.

In President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Speech he repeated that, “… we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes.  (Applause.)”

So what is a “fair” share?  The President is implying that he, and others that are well off, are skirting their responsibility to the country.  In fact it is the wealthiest 10% of American’s that pay 71% of the taxes and the top 1% pay more than the bottom 90% combined.

There are lots of good arguments to be made why higher taxes on people who produce wealth will hurt the economy.  One only need look to the Reagan Administration.   The cut in tax rates lead to the economy taking off like a shot after the Jimmy Carter malaise.  In contrast the Obama so-called stimulus has only drug the economy deeper into unemployment and, well, more malaise.

While the practical arguments can and should be made against redistribution of wealth, what does the Bible have to say about such things.  Turns out it’s quite a lot.

Let us start with the Parable of Talents told by Jesus in Matthew 25.  Jesus was using a parable to illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven.  First off the Master didn’t trust all of his servants equally.  To one he gave 10 talents, to another 5 and another just 1.  Apparently people are gifted differently!  So according to their given gifts and ability they are trusted.  Can you imagine?  Me or my brother used to complain when one got more ice cream than the other.  Now we see that God trusts us all differently according to how He made us?  That doesn’t sound fair, but it is true.

So back to Jesus’ Parable of the Talents.  The one trusted with 10 talents invests wisely and earns 10 more.  The one given 5 earns 5 more.  But the one who received only 1 talent buried it in the backyard and only returned the single talent to his master when he returned.  Jesus calls that servant wicked and lazy!  His talent is taken from him and given to the one with 10!  Again. doesn’t sound so fair.

Check it out in verse 27:

²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

Zoinks!  That doesn’t sound fair either!  Kind of ironic that Jesus told the wicked and lazy servant that he should have at least deposited the money in the bank.  Makes me wonder if the Occupiers have read the Bible.

I think it is fair to say that Jesus is saying that if you are faithful with the gifts and talents you are given you will receive a reward.  If you aren’t then not so much.  Talents (and talent) isn’t distributed equally and yet all of us are responsible for what we are trusted with.  The second half of Luke 12:48 says:

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

If you have been trusted with a lot of gifts, much is required of you.  Is it fair that God has gifted some with great voices that we don’t have?  or great ability to make money that maybe we don’t have?  or great athletic ability that we don’t have?  Should we all be the same?  NO!  It’s our differences and individuality all fit together with each other that make a fully functioning whole.  And we are only responsible with what we have been trusted with.  That to me actually does sound fair.

After Jesus was crucified, died and on the third day rose again, the 1st Century Christian Church was born.  It was an exciting time.  Acts Chapter 4 talks of something that sounds a little like Socialism!

³⁴ Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, ³⁵ and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Sharing is caring.  And they did for each other.  One very important distinction here.  There was no mandate by the state.  They weren’t being taxed with the proceeds (after paying bureaucrats salaries, etc.) being redistributed.  No.  This was out of love for each other and done freely.

The point is made rather poignantly in Acts Chapter 5.  Ananias and Sapphira came up with a scheme that they thought would make them look good to their Christian friends while still keeping a nice stash for themselves.  They sold some land and donated the proceeds to the church to help the poor.  Awesome!  Except.  They kept some of the money for themselves.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. ² And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? ⁴ While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Peter makes it clear that it would have been no problem for them to do what they wanted with the property and/or the proceeds. It was theirs to do as they with as they pleased.  You can read the rest of the story in Acts 5, but the point is the government wasn’t requiring redistribution of wealth.  Christians (most of them) were giving out of the abundance of their own hearts.  Not compelled by the force of law, but urged by love for each other.

Even Christians started taking advantage of the kindness of their fellow Christians.  So much so that Paul rebuked some in the Thessalonian Church in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 3 that, “¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

There are other examples I could point too, but this article is long enough and I think I have made my point.  Suffice it to say that according to Biblical principles, ability to acquire wealth is not distributed equally nor are gifts and talents.  Try as governments may to make things “fair” they will never accomplish that goal.  Laws and tax structures do not change reality.  Rather when they don’t line up with Biblical principles they frustrate and hinder God’s best.