Community and Risk

We in America are a blessed people in a blessed nation.

The average American makes $73,573 before taxes. Strikingly, the average American spends $60,060 of that... again, before taxes. That does not leave a lot available to save, obviously. Breaking it down further, the greatest expenditures are housing ($19,884), food ($7700, $3000 of which is spent going out to eat), and insurance ($6771). If you combined going out to eat with entertainment (the 6th largest expenditure at $3203), this would add up to the 4th largest expenditure, but I digress... this isn't about critiquing all of that.

Really, what strikes me today is that insurance number. More than $564 per month is spent on this, and for many people, that is a low number. My job requires me to carry a high premium on auto insurance, for instance (I am fortunate that about 35% of that is offset by assistance to carry that much, but even after that it's more than a lot of people pay, all factors considered). Many pay big money for health insurance. And let's not forget that all these averages are just that: the average between high and low income earners and expenditures.

Big insurance categories include health, auto, homeowners, and life. Most insurances fall under those umbrellas, with several sub-categories. What I find amusing is "supplementals," or insurance that insures against insurance not insuring (covers co-pays and other things most policies won't)!

I'm not even going to get into it any further, because, well, I don't want to. It's a rabbit hole I don't want to dive into. It is just an illustration for a spiritual observation.

If followers of Jesus operated as the Bible instructs a community to operate, how much easier would it be to manage risk?

A few passages of Scripture come to mind:

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have allen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:9-10)

"... Do not stand idly by when your neighbor's life is threatened. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:16).

"There should be no poor among you, for the LORD your God will greatly bless you in teh land he is giving you as a special possession." (Deuteronomy 15:4)

"... 'And who is my neighbor?'" (Luke 10:29, followed by the parable of the Good Samaritan)... "'Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?' Jesus asked. The man replied, 'The one who showed him mercy.' Then Jesus said, 'Yes, now go and do the same.'" (Luke 10:36-37).

After the first community of Jesus's followers was formed, in Acts 2:44-45: "And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need."

Historically, communities spread risk among its members. People hunted in groups to reduce the likeliness that one person would get gored by and elk or a bison. Goods were shipped among several caravans to insure against the whole shipment being stolen by bandits. The first written insurance policy could be found on the Babylonian "Hammurabi Code." In Judaism, the community was responsible to, together, assist their people in times of distress.

It isn't so simple as saying, "Let's get rid of all that insurance stuff and trust God and each other!" That would not be responsible and would lead to presuming on the kindness of others. However, I feel there are principles to at least consider here.

1. Individually, we begin by trusting God as the ultimate protection against ultimate risk. Ultimate risk isn't losing your house to a fire. It's losing your eternal life. It's falling away from the great plan of God for your life.
2. Followers of Jesus should be the community who cares so much for each other that that we eagerly build into the community the ability to help any of its members who are in need. We must eschew the attitude that says, "So sorry for what you are going through, but I am not responsible for your misfortune," in favor of an attitude of eagerness that says, "Whatever you are going through, we are here to help!"
3. Individually, as part of a community, we should not presume on others' kindness and generosity, or wrongly take advantage of people. If you don't contribute to the community as you are able, you really don't have the right to constantly ask for its assistance. Paul was pretty clear when he said that those who refuse to work should not be allowed to partake of the assistance of the church.

I'm sure more principles could be gleaned from this, beyond what I consider in my devotional time. What are your thoughts? Any principles you might add when it comes to the community of Christ-followers and how we help each other?