| Highlights of DAWN | December 1975 |
“The Prosperity of the Wicked”
“But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” —Psalm 73:2,3 RSV
ALMOST from the beginning, man’s dealings with his fellow man have been tainted with the virus of selfishness. Down through the ages, this malady has assumed many different forms, and has manifested itself in many different ways. But it is always an abomination in the sight of the Lord. And, sadly enough, because of conditions developing throughout the world which are unique to these latter days, this spreading disease is threatening the existence of civilization as we know it. In the year now closing we have seen more than the usual number of irresponsible acts fostered solely by self-interest.
Ever since the fall, selfishness has motivated man to a greater or lesser degree. The strong have long enslaved the weak, the rich have dominated the poor, the more intelligent have imposed their will upon the less well endowed. Thus with the inception of the industrial revolution the fortunate few possessing capital were in a position to exploit the many who were in need of bread and shelter. And all too often the humble workman spent long hours at his trade laboring under intolerable conditions for low wages. The laborer remained poor, while the rich employer grew richer.
In course of time workingmen joined together to form unions and thus were enabled to bring about much-needed reforms in hours of labor, working conditions, and pay. As a result, the lot of the workingman was greatly improved. Indeed, so far has the pendulum swung, that now, in large measure, it is the powerful national unions that virtually dictate the terms under which the labor force shall work. But more and more that hard-won power is being selfishly exercised.
For instance, in the last few months we have seen police in various parts of the nation, who are paid to uphold the law, and teachers, who are hired to instruct our children in obedience to the law, engaging in strikes for higher pay, even while defying court-ordered injunctions against such actions. We have seen firemen and garbage collectors phoning in “sick” in order to pressure the municipal authorities into granting their demands, even though these demands may contribute to forcing their employer into bankruptcy. And these actions are engaged in with disregard for the health and well-being of the general public, who pay their salaries. We have even seen hospital workers abandon the sick to walk the picket line.
It is possible that some of these demands may have merit; but the point is, that these striking groups seek their own selfish ends with little regard for the safety and welfare of those by whom they are employed, often to the point of defying the law which they are paid to uphold.
The Power of the “We”
In a democratic government it is well-nigh impossible for an elected official to exercise his judgment for the benefit of the public at large; for he holds office at the will of his narrow constituency, and his constituency expects him to look out for their own special and local interests against that of other groups. This difficulty is well expressed by Michael J. Gillman, Chairman of the Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board for Michigan, as reported in a recent issue of Newsweek. Mr. Gillman vividly describes the built-in bias toward selfishness that pervades the entire social structure as constituted today. He says:
“The ‘we’ of us is organized to identify and promote self-interest—from manufacturing associations to medical societies, industrial unions, and welfare-rights organizations. The ‘we’ acts to establish advantages over ‘them’. … If leaders were to … respond with honesty to the problems of national solvency, international hunger and the distribution of finite resources, their goodness would be exceeded only by the briefness of their tenure in office.”
Then Mr. Gillman offers some not-too-hypothetical situations for consideration. “Suppose,” he says, “a congressman in an inflation-racked America were to propose that we respond to the U.N. World Food Conference by making available the 8 million tons of grain needed to stop worldwide starvation—with full public awareness that American bread would cost $1 a loaf as a result.
“Suppose a U.S. senator from Seattle were to identify jet vapor as damaging to the earth’s ozone shield and propose drastic cutbacks in the manufacture of jet aircraft.
The “Right” to Luxury
“Suppose a leading economist recognized the finiteness of earth’s goods and called into question the ‘right’ of every banker to a yacht, every laborer to a snowmobile, every welfare recipient to a television.
“Suppose a President took the advice of his advisers and sought national fuel self-sufficiency by means of a 30-cent-per-gallon tax increase. … Suppose all of the above and their colleagues were to realize that reduced resource consumption, less affluent lifestyles and a flattening of the gross national product charts for everyone are essential if we are to leave any legacy to our children—and shaped policy accordingly.
“No Gallup, Roper or Harris is needed,” Gillman wrote, “to tell you what the public response would be when calls for sacrifice and restraint become specific demands on the ‘we’ of us. We are all so deeply entwined in jockeying [for our share] that only cataclysmic events will dislodge us—and perhaps too late for recovery.”
To students of God’s Word, this appraisal by Mr. Gillman of the final end of universal selfishness is well-nigh prophetic.
Theodore Kheel, well-known and highly regarded arbitrator of labor disputes, has much the same general view. Applying it to the labor situation, he says, “Once [a union chief] gets to be magnanimous and takes the broad public point of view, he’s defeated. Every leader of a special-interest group is basically selfish. That’s why he is the leader.”
Get—While the Getting Is Good
These selfish tendencies are not confined to individuals, or to manufacturing associations, or to great national unions. We have but lately seen the oil-producing nations band together in order to impose sharply higher prices for their product that is sold to the oil-consuming nations, thus further aggravating the inflationary conditions already besetting the world. This circumstance is threatening the financial stability of some of those nations to whom oil at a reasonable price is a vital commodity.
When one authority of the oil-producing countries was chided for their action, he is reported to have replied, “Nobody cared about us before we had oil. Nobody will care about us after it is gone.” In other words, we are going to get, while the getting is good; if some one suffers, well that is just too bad.
Oil Cartel “Just the Beginning”
There is growing evidence that these examples of the extent to which individuals and nations will go in order to promote their own special interests are perhaps but the beginning. Having seen the dramatic results obtained by the collaboration of the oil-producing nations, other countries possessing key products are working toward similar monopolistic arrangements. We quote from an article that appeared in the New York Times some time back:
But oil is just the beginning, for three reasons. First, the lesson of this startling reversal of power seems obvious for other countries with key primary products: Band together and your revenues can rise dramatically. Second, higher oil prices force the other primary producers to increase their export earnings to pay for their oil needs. Third, OPEC [Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries] itself appears ready to support the formation of other cartels, as one way to avoid opprobrium for bankrupting the ‘developing countries.’”
The writer points out that “the United States, China and Brazil produce most of the world’s soybeans, and they could act in concert, but they are unlikely to form a soybean cartel.” One sincerely hopes not. But he suggests that copper is next. He continues:
“Copper Is Next”
“But several other commodity cartels have already formed, including one of copper producers, and CIPEC (standing for Chile, Peru, Zaire and Zambia) may soon join OPEC as a household word. Copper is an essential ingredient in electrical and structural products … with a vital impact on Western economies. … The Shah of Iran has predicted that ‘copper is next.’”
The writer continues his ominous recital of other potential cartels, some already in the formative stage, others being considered by those nations possessing scarce products: coffee, tin, natural rubber (whose importance has risen dramatically with the competitive decline of petroleum-based synthetic rubber), timber, tea, cocoa, and pepper.
Birth of “Resources Diplomacy”
Out of all this frantic international maneuvering for economic and political power has come a new term, defining new international policy. Seemingly it was coined by Australia, which has spoken publicly of its new “resources diplomacy,” and which is leading a movement among bauxite producers to form an “aluminum OPEC.” The idea in all this, of course, is to use one’s unique, God-given natural resources as weapons in dealing with dependent “have-not” nations.
Thus it is becoming daily more apparent that not only oil, but other key products in world trade (which are essential to world well-being) are not inexhaustible; and the increasing realization and impact of this fact on all men’s lives intensifies the selfish tendencies of fallen man. As long as there is plenty for all, selfishness is not so plainly evident. But as the world becomes a smaller place, as our neighbors crowd in closer, as the growing population increases the demand for diminishing supplies, then individual and national selfishness is laid bare for all to see.
This is a condition that is virtually universal and is causing many good people to lose hope. Let us skip over to India, which has had a so-called democratic government for some time, but where the rich get richer as the poor get poorer, and listen to Krishna Barwani, a shop keeper in Old Delhi. He says, “Many of my friends believe now that things will get better for us. But I don’t know. I don’t see how things can get better. The greed and folly of man has brought us to where we are, and we have only man to make things better. Why should we count on the creature [man] who made things so bad to make things better? This will not happen.” How right Mr. Barwani is in his despair of the ability of imperfect, selfish man to remove the curse of greed from the earth!
“Where Is God?”
Those good people, who do not understand God’s wonderful plan of the ages, are baffled at the continued victory of greed over selflessness, over love. They reason, if there is a God of love and justice, why are these evils allowed to continue?
So prevalent has greed become, and so seldom is it dealt with as the scourge that it is, that many right-minded people are beginning to ask themselves, Why should I be unselfish, why should I be honest in my dealings with my fellow man? True, God did say, Thou shalt not covet; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But what is God doing about it all?
So also inquired the psalmist. He wrote, “Why dost thou stand afar off, O Lord? Why dost thou hide thyself in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart, and the man greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his countenance the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’ His ways prosper at all times; thy judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. He thinks in his heart, ‘I shall not be moved: throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.’”—Ps. 10:1-6 RSV
Indeed, the prosperity of the greedy, while “the hapless is crushed, sinks down, and falls” almost stumbled David; for in another place, after proclaiming that “truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart,” he seemed for the moment not to be so sure, for he continues, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my step had well nigh slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. … Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them. And they say, ‘How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?’ But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end. … For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; but for me it is good to be near God; I have the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.”—Ps. 73 RSV
The Matter Made Plain
When the psalmist tried to reason on this state of affairs from the human standpoint he found it too difficult, “a wearisome task.” But then he went into the presence of the Lord, into “the sanctuary of God,” and inquired of him, and the matter became plain. He learned that this will not always be so, for in due time the selfish and wicked shall be punished. And so with all who are the Lord’s, all who dwell in the holy place, and are enlightened by God’s Word. These perceive that selfishness and all forms of evil are permitted of the Lord for a season, and for a reason—that man might learn for all time the direful effects of sin. Then, when iniquity has come to the full, this “present evil world” will be destroyed, and give place to that wonderful new world “wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—Gal. 1:4; II Pet. 3:10-13
In the meantime, in the midst of all this present evil, God’s instructions to his people are clear. They are to shun, as it were a plague, the spirit of selfishness and greed that is so prevalent in the world today, and which is so contrary to the spirit of love. When Jesus was present at his first advent, he said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15) On another occasion he said, “If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.”—Matt. 5:40
A little later Jesus compared the perish ability of earthly things with the permanence of heavenly treasures. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal,” he said. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”—Matt. 6:19-21
The Apostle Paul instructed the church along the same line. Writing to Timothy, he said, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”—I Tim. 6:6-11
“What Shall We Have Therefore?”
When Jesus enjoined upon his disciples the lesson of giving, instead of getting—the lesson of sacrifice, for the kingdom’s sake—Peter was puzzled, not yet having been begotten of the Holy Spirit. It was the time when the rich young ruler, finding it too much to lay down his riches and take up the Christian’s burden of following after Jesus, “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Then it was that Peter said to Jesus, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?”
And how we rejoice in that wonderful promise that Jesus made in reply, to all who follow him—to all who give so little, but gain so much! “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”—Matt. 19:16-29
No, the privilege of reigning with Christ in his thousand-year kingdom for the blessing of all the families of the earth is not for the selfish and greedy. It is not for those whose aim in life is to get—it is for those who give—those who give themselves to the Lord, and follow with selfless devotion in the steps of the Master.
And when the kingdom is established and the world of mankind brought forth from the grave, then even those who went down into death more or less contaminated with the virus of greed will be brought forth from the grave to have an opportunity to be cleansed. Under the loving ministrations of Christ and the church these will be gently guided up the highway of holiness, to learn the true and lasting joy of giving. They will come to know of God’s unselfish gift on their behalf of his only begotten Son, through whose sacrifice all the obedient of the Kingdom Age may gain everlasting life. Then each will truly love his neighbor as himself. Then all will see that “Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart,” and that all evil shall be forever banished from the earth.—Isa. 35:8; John 3:16; Ps. 73
Then, too, our good friend Krishna Barwani, the shopkeeper of Old Delhi, will see the heights and depths of God’s love and power; he will see that although imperfect man could not rid the world of the scourge of selfishness, with God all things are possible. And he will be glad, and greatly praise the Lord!