What if we could create a system where everyone was able to provide what they need for themselves and their families just by working hard? That's not the case right now because people all over the world need help meeting their basic needs even when they work hard, long hours.
This Is Our Current System
In our current system, wages are pushed down so far that they are at the poverty level. This makes it virtually impossible to provide for your family's basic needs like shelter, food, education for your children, and health services. This is where Charities step in. They see the need and step in to meet those needs in the best way they can. Because we see those people in need, we want to help and support the Charity's mission. The Charities are needed, there's no doubt about that.
To a certain extent, we as consumers get a double benefit. We get low prices and we feel good when we donate to Charities that are helping the poor.
How do we break this cycle? Is there a different system where the poor would be capable of providing for themselves?
The Improved System
In the improved system, living wages are paid to the hard workers. Instead of the Charities providing the education for their children, medical services, food, and shelter, the workers are able to provide all of it for themselves. The need for Charities will most likely never be completely eliminated because we will always have people who won't be able to work like you or I, but the need could be greatly reduced.
Not only do the workers have the ability to provide for themselves and their families, but the workers are able to use their wages to pay for teachers, doctors, nurses, farmers who are providing services for them. These providers then use their wages to pay for the things they need and so on and so on.
But for us consumers, it might not feel as good. We will have to pay higher prices. We also might not get the good feelings of donating to a charity because we have fewer resources from which to give. So, it could feel doubly negative in a way. The question we need to ask ourselves is what sort of system do we want to play in - what sort of system does Jesus want us to play in?
The System Plays In So Many Ways
Fashion is not the only way that this game gets played. When I think about how many items I purchase from different countries, it starts to fill up the map.
I've started redefining what I find desirable - something that is well made and made well. If we start to redefine it, maybe others would start to share our outlook. It only takes a few people to stare up in the sky to get an entire crowd to look in the same direction.
"There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger & unhappiness" - Mahatma Gandhi
"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord. -Jeremiah 22:16
If you are wondering where to begin your journey helping to shape the system into something better, our website is full of companies that are making the effort to ensure fair wages are paid. Don't forget: we don't get any financial support from any company referenced on this website, so there is no benefit to us.
Comments