Psalm Meditation 1253 ¶Proper 7 ¶June 23, 2024 ¶Psalm 113 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+113&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Those of us who have some privilege are of the opinion that we are here because God has put us here because we have done something to deserve it. The poor are poor because they have done something to deserve the punishment of poverty. It is a comforting way of looking at the world, however it is probably not accurate. Poverty, having no resources beyond necessity, seems to be the way we come into the world as well as the way we leave. The Bible is pretty clear that having more than enough is more dangerous to our souls than having too little. ¶The way of the world is to keep getting more and more stuff, and then to hold on to it, just in case. We don’t need to share with others because we each have what we have earned and deserve. We protect what we own, even as we yearn and strive for more. Ideally, we want, not just more but, more than anyone we know. Helping others in any way is seen as a sign of weakness, and makes us a target for every money, property, resource grubbing person around us. ¶The way of God and the people of God is to share our good fortune with others who have deep needs. We share with others out of gratitude for all with which God has blessed us. According to the Bible, the reason we have more than we need, is to share with those whose need is greater than ours. Any hoarding of resources is probably as sinful as stealing from those around us. It is God’s desire for each of us to raise the poor from the dust, to give them equal standing with us, even if it means having less ourselves. ¶June 17, 2024 ¶LCM