Sharing is Godly
By Millard Fuller

Millard Fuller recently traveled throughout Central America--bearing witness to his own words: "The welfare of all should be the concern of all."

In the United States today, we are experiencing an era of unprecedented prosperity. Thousands upon thousands of people are becoming millionaires. Many are billionaires. Even very young people are becoming millionaires, especially in places like the Silicon Valley.

And the affluence is fueling an appetite for more and more of everything: big cars, big houses, expensive vacations, luxurious second homes. For the first time in history, $10 million "spec" homes are being built and sold.

At the same time, a recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development study revealed that at least 5.3 million families in this country live in substandard housing. That is at least 20 million people!

Why worry about it? After all, doesn't the Bible say that the poor will always be with us? So it says in Deuteronomy. But let's examine the remainder of that scripture: "...The poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.' "

Furthermore, as Matthew 25 admonishes, we should not only open our hand, but our door so that "the stranger" can come in and have a decent and good place to stay and to live.

The Bible is clear in telling us to care about the problems of the poor and to take action. It is a matter of simple and pure justice and, to use a strong theological term, righteousness. The welfare of all should be the concern of all. To whom much is given, much is required.

Unbridled greed is wrong. Selfishness is sinful. Sharing and caring are godly. An open hand and an open door are pleasing to the Lord and beneficial to a well-ordered and just society.

At the beginning of this new millennium, let us be about opening hands, hearts and doors so that all may come in and enjoy the abundance of the land.


Millard Fuller is the founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International.


Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, February/March 2000.
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©2000 Habitat for Humanity International