The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate my understanding of how the Biblical text directly and/or indirectly relates to wealth, poverty, and economic justice. Starting with the second creation story found in the book of Genesis to Martin Luther King, Jr’s last sermon titled, The Drum Major Instinct, this paper will explore how the absence of loving self unselfishly fuels social and economic injustices that have plagued humanity since the fall of Adam and Eve. On January 6, 2018, a friend sent me this quote from an unknown source, “The woman you’re becoming will cost you relationships, spaces, and material things. Choose her over everything.” After reflecting upon the words, I sent her this reply, “Learning to love self in an unselfish way,
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And he said unto them, What would you that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.” Jesus responds, “But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.” Further, Jesus says, “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be the servant of all” (Mark 10:35-40, King James Version).
James and John, the sons of Zebedee were not pleased with the response they received as their quest to become first overruled their call to be a servant of all. Like most humans, they wanted to be first, to be viewed with esteem, favor, power, and prestige without thought of what their selfish rise would inflict on others. Jesus exposed the same selfish love of self in them that was the cause of the original fall of humanity beginning in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. King’s sermon explains that we are all plagued with a basic human instinct that is connected to our freedom to act, “We all want to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade” (King, 1968). These inherent qualities of the human race have the ability to cause so much harm and oppression on self and others and yet, God created us with them in our freedom to act, love and
And he said unto them, What would you that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.” Jesus responds, “But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.” Further, Jesus says, “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be the servant of all” (Mark 10:35-40, King James Version).
James and John, the sons of Zebedee were not pleased with the response they received as their quest to become first overruled their call to be a servant of all. Like most humans, they wanted to be first, to be viewed with esteem, favor, power, and prestige without thought of what their selfish rise would inflict on others. Jesus exposed the same selfish love of self in them that was the cause of the original fall of humanity beginning in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. King’s sermon explains that we are all plagued with a basic human instinct that is connected to our freedom to act, “We all want to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade” (King, 1968). These inherent qualities of the human race have the ability to cause so much harm and oppression on self and others and yet, God created us with them in our freedom to act, love and