A contractor recruits a mason from a remote village to work at a construction site in a mega city. The mason does not even own a single brick in that project. After the completion of the project, they must seek the next job, in another project. It looks promising as the mason could send home money, support his family, and have new consumer goods. Their labor does not translate into equity, long-term security, and elevation of their educational status. But the contractor makes a handsome profit. This is institutionalized as the caste system. Interestingly, India’s software is also similarly based on labor arbitrage with foreign clients. The middlemen sold cheap IT labor to foreign companies. The victims of the IT boom were the perpetrators of fellow Indians who had fewer skills.
Promised Land: When God gave the Promised Land to Israel, all families got their portion of the land. Even if it is sold due to any reason, it would be returned in the Year of Jubilee. (Leviticus 27:24) Such a biblical system does not exist in most cultures and nations. The farm laborers do not get any equity or stake like a migrant laborer who comes to a city or an IT worker who migrates to a foreign nation.
Equal opportunity: The Year of Jubilee allows a family to reset their life. Hence, in every generation inequality is eradicated. There is no perpetual poverty. In most cultures, inequality is the norm.
Human greed: The reason for inequality and poverty is the human greed to grab and hoard. Like the foolish rich man, they like to enjoy and save for posterity. (Luke 12:13-21) They refuse to see around, those who are in need and share. Hence, all attempts, both political and social to create an equitable society fails.
Love your neighbor: God expects His people to love others: relatives, neighbors, strangers, and even enemies. Those who give freely, gain more. (Proverbs 11:24) Prosperous Nations, where people enjoy freedom, have the biblical principles of giving, caring, and sharing.
Does my life operate on the principles of loving, sharing, and caring?