Context

What is ‘a fair balance’ between our own and others’ needs?

There has long been a widespread acceptance that anyone who wishes to contribute to society should be enabled to do so. For those who face the challenge of living with disabilities, the society that benefits from their work often provides support for ‘reasonable adjustments’ that enable them to carry it out. In the UK, a system of taxpayer-funded state provision seeks to ensure a fair distribution of the resources available. This enables many disabled people to find employment, but there are others whose capacity to work remains severely limited, either because the present system does not provide sufficient support, or because their disabilities are too restricting.

It is reported this week that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is alleged to be in breach of the law, because its capped Access to Work grant is insufficient for the deaf chief executive of a charity to have the full-time British Sign Language interpreter he needs in order to carry out his job. 

 

Reflection

What seems ‘fair’ to one person may seem unfair to someone else. Consequently, we often find ourselves debating just how much money we, as a society, should spend in order to meet the needs of others. Similarly, St Paul tried to help the Corinthian church strike ‘a fair balance’ when he sought contributions from them for the support of the poor Christians in Jerusalem, at a time when there was no state provision to support those in need. 

The divine command to come to the aid of those in need, irrespective of whether or not they can work, is a thread woven throughout the Bible and Christian tradition. It persists despite the many occasions on which sections of the Church have closed their ears to the cries of the suffering.

The blessings we receive from God may consist of wealth or possessions, intellect or skills. They may be capacities to serve, to befriend, or genuinely to listen while others talk. God’s blessings are not to be hoarded, however, and if we are blessed with material or spiritual gifts, God’s love requires that we use them to bring blessing to others.

The wonder is that, as we share our blessings with others, we often find that they bring blessings to us. If we, as a society, support people at work, then we all may benefit from their achievements. Many people who have contributed to the relief of poverty, supported or volunteered on a project, or visited someone at home, in prison or in hospital, have felt that they received more blessing than they gave.

St Paul is very clear, however, that we ought not to give so much that we impoverish ourselves beyond repair. God’s blessings may be infinite, but our money and our stamina are not. For the giver to end up in material need, or to suffer emotional burnout, helps no one. And so, St Paul encourages his readers to seek ‘a fair balance’ between meeting others’ needs and meeting their own.

 

Prayer

This could be used as a prayer for the day, or as a post-Communion prayer.

Giver of all good gifts,
we thank you for all the blessings we have received from you.
May we always heed the promptings of your Holy Spirit
to share with others what we have received,
to the mutual benefit of all your people;
through Jesus Christ,
who gave all he had and has received all that is,
our brother and our Lord.
Amen.

 

Questions

• What blessings have we received from others that have enabled us to live life more fully?

• What criteria do we use to decide how and with whom to share our blessings?

• What constitutes ‘a fair balance’ in society’s support of those who can work and those unable to work?

 

All-age activity

Give half the group an easily shared treat (e.g. a two-finger Twix), and tell them it’s entirely up to them whether they share it or not – there will be no penalties. Without making any judgement, ask them to discuss the pros and cons are of sharing or not sharing, and how they feel about them. If there is time, ask about how sharing and not sharing work in our society.

 

Young people

Ask members of the group to fill in X and Y in the sentence, ‘If someone hadn’t given me X / shared X with me, I wouldn’t have been able to do Y.’ Ask them what ‘X’s they have, or might have in the future, which, if shared, would enable others to achieve their ‘Y’s.

 

The Revd Robert Beard is a freelance writer and former minister in Yorkshire.

 

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