Why We Work for "Stuff": A Catholic View of Private Property - Part 4
As we continue to look at the Old Testament vis a vis the obligation of all with means to provide for the needy, one point begins to gain prominence:
Well, I guess we've just listed a few ways. Okay, so now let's try to better understand the whole idea of "using common goods through almsgiving," and the "duty of work to multiply goods for our neighbors needs." Can you see the difference between this and the idea of strictly pursuing our self-interest? Of course. When all economic activity is motivated strictly by self-interest, what place is there for charity? Okay, you could say that it's up to each individual to inject, as it were, charity into their personal striving for success. But that's not the same as an obligation on the part of the society in which we live to inculcate charity into our way of life through its laws and customs. We turn again to Cardinal Wyszynski in Working Your Way into Heaven for examples from the Old Testament:
You might think that providing for the needy through law or custom in a sense reduces, even eliminates the role of the individual act of charity or minimizes the individual merit that might accrue to those who respond to law or custom. Perhaps it does in some cases. On the other hand, we might rather find that such laws and customs grew from the beliefs and practices of individuals who were well-versed in the teachings expressed in the Scriptural passages we've been reading. And here we see the importance of religion in in the formation of society's laws and customs. Which, of course, raises the question of why anyone in their right mind would want to eliminate religion from the public square.
But that's a discussion for another time. Next time, we'll find there's yet another step beyond the duty of work itself to multiply goods for our neighbors' needs. Stay tuned.
Of necessity, it follows that with private possession goes the duty of using goods in common through almsgiving. But more noteworthy still is the duty of work itself to multiply goods for our neighbors' needs, so that we have more to share with them.Not only ought we give what we have, but we have a duty to create more so that we can give more. When you first read this, you may have to re-read it a few times - then think about it. How do we do this? Work harder? Get a better job that pays more so that we can have more to give? Create new means of production that utilize the world's resources more efficiently so that more people can afford more? Build a business that employs people who can earn a living wage?
Well, I guess we've just listed a few ways. Okay, so now let's try to better understand the whole idea of "using common goods through almsgiving," and the "duty of work to multiply goods for our neighbors needs." Can you see the difference between this and the idea of strictly pursuing our self-interest? Of course. When all economic activity is motivated strictly by self-interest, what place is there for charity? Okay, you could say that it's up to each individual to inject, as it were, charity into their personal striving for success. But that's not the same as an obligation on the part of the society in which we live to inculcate charity into our way of life through its laws and customs. We turn again to Cardinal Wyszynski in Working Your Way into Heaven for examples from the Old Testament:
How subtle and farseeing a love of one's neighbor is contained in the Old Testament commandment, which may displease many present-day argonmists. "When thou reapest the corn of they land, thou shalt not cut down all that is on the face of the earth to the very ground; nor shalt though gather the ears that remain. Neither shalt thou gather the branches and grapes that fall down in the vineyard, but shalt leave them for the poor and the strangers to take...Notice how the farmer in this instance does not gather in the most "efficient" manner; he purposely leaves a percent - even if only a small percent - of his produce for the mouths of others. This is done as a matter of course, either by law or custom.
In the book of Ruth we read that Boaz deliberately ordered his harvesters to leave corn in the fields, so that Ruth, who was poor, would have some to bring home...the interesting practice that obtained in those days...Here the owner, Boaz, goes a step further and specifically leaves food for the destitute Ruth. He knew her plight. Interestingly, rather than simply give her the goods, he leaves them for her to gather on her own. Ruth can take the initiative to help herself, even as Boaz helps her.
Or we might consider the right that passersby had to take ears of corn or grapes from others' fields: "Going into they neighbors' vineyard, though mayst eat as many grapes as thou pleases, but must carry none with thee. If though go into thy friend's corn, thou mayst break the ears, and rub them in thy hand, but not reap them with a sickle." Here once again is a strikingly social custom, which was preserved down to the time of Christ and of which He Himself made use.In referring to the right that passersby had, with find a clear example where the law promotes a duty to produce enough such that there is ample surplus to provide for others.
You might think that providing for the needy through law or custom in a sense reduces, even eliminates the role of the individual act of charity or minimizes the individual merit that might accrue to those who respond to law or custom. Perhaps it does in some cases. On the other hand, we might rather find that such laws and customs grew from the beliefs and practices of individuals who were well-versed in the teachings expressed in the Scriptural passages we've been reading. And here we see the importance of religion in in the formation of society's laws and customs. Which, of course, raises the question of why anyone in their right mind would want to eliminate religion from the public square.
But that's a discussion for another time. Next time, we'll find there's yet another step beyond the duty of work itself to multiply goods for our neighbors' needs. Stay tuned.
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