The main point which is made in the bible is to treat others as you would want to be. Basically the bible wants to put its believers in the shoes of a less fortunate believer before they make a decision. The bible quote ‘Treat others as you would want them to treat you’ shows this point very clearly. This is the ‘Golden Rule’ ands should be stuck to in all situations.
The bible quote ‘do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan’ relates to the banks charging interest that is very high on loans to countries which cannot afford it. The quote is saying, do not make things harder for a person who has already had it rough and has enough problems just like the developing countries and generally do not take advantage of their rough times.
The problem of people charging interest on loans is shown in the bible quote ‘You must not lend money at interest or sell him food at a profit’ which just tells Christians to be fair and not charge additional for your benefit.
The bible quote ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleamings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the lord your god.’ Shows how people shouldn’t be so greedy. It is saying that when the farmer harvests his crops, he should let the local needy take what have left. In today’s world it means that whether it belongs to you or not, you have more than them already so give it to the poor as you have been well off without the benefits of it but they have not and they would appreciate that small thing more than you ever could.
The bible quote ‘if one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you’ is saying that rather than letting someone have to change their lifestyle and move down in social status, take care of them and therefore let them remain at the same position they have always been in around you. That is like in today’s world offering a person who will have to go into an old persons home the chance to stay where they are but have you look after them.
The bible quote ‘and he has given us this command: whoever loves god must also love his brother’ teaches believers that if they love god than they must treat their neighbours well and follow his commandments. The amount that you love god will be shown through how you treat your neighbour.
The quote ‘and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and night will become like noonday.’ Tells believers that even if they feel like their good deeds are not being recognised by others then they must continue them. For when it is time for judgement, you will be put on the right hand side and will be recognised for your good work by god which is more important.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus shows us of how we must appreciate the things we have and that we must take more notice of our surroundings. When the rich man ignored Lazarus he also ignored god and so in order to show love for god we must show love for our neighbour.
In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, the bible is telling Christian believers that they must consider the decisions they make. They must thing of the consequences from making decisions and then take the right one. Those who take the right decision will be praised for it and those who do not, will not receive any praise.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a major point which is shown throughout the bible to believers is shown as clearly as possible. This is the point that Christians must treat all people equally no matter who they are or what they believe in. This story shows a great movement by a single man which defeats hatred between Jews and Samaritans which has existed all through history. The Samaritan takes care of the Jew unlike the priest or Levite, who would have been expected to under all circumstances. This shows how we must treat all humans as our brother or neighbour instead of something of a different form. What this man has shown is Agape love. Agape love should be shown by all Christians as it is one thing which Jesus wanted everybody to show. Agape love is the single type of love which means you may help somebody you do not know or do not like. This type of love can change not how people perceive others but how we treat them despite how we perceive them and is the type of love which could greatly help to eradicate poverty from the world which is caused by war or politics.
The quote ‘Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.’ Shows us how we must give all that we have and that we must believe that god will be there for us and give us all that we need. We don’t not need money if we have god by our sides. The widow gave her entire savings and was left with nothing but the rich gave lots but were still left with far more than the widow had ever had.
The quote ‘do not judge or you too will be judged’ gives us the way at which we must view other people. It is saying that we must look beyond the physical or even mental things and only consider that this thing before us is a human. We must, as believers, not think about other ways of life in order for them not to view ours. If the bond is broken in one way then it will be broken in the opposite one as well.
Approximately one quarter of the world’s population lives in the northern hemisphere and they use approximately three quarters resources. That means that there is three quarters of the world’s population living in the southern hemisphere using approximately one quarter of the worlds resources. People in the south very often go with little or even without completely. The people in the south do not have enough food to survive but there is enough food in the world to support the entire population, only if it is distributed properly. People’s greed in the north means that there are approximately 20 million deaths in the south due to inadequate amounts of food per year.
The statistics above are the main reason that the teachings of Jesus must be followed. These teachings could really make a difference to the inequality within the world. We need to do every last bit we can do to change the world. The future is dependant on how we treat this place, so let’s treat it right and follow the bibles teachings. After all ‘Faith, if not accompanied by action, is dead’.
