Green Grass, Cake, and the EBT Card

When trying to persuade an individual or entity to the merits of an argument, I often vacillate between whether to present the strongest reasons first or last.  It seems logical to finishing strong – the most compelling point being the final thing in the audience’s mind.  Gradually persuading them, then closing the deal – “setting the hook“ so to speak.  

Conversely, the Army writing style calls for the “BLUF” – bottom line up front.   Get right to the point – the foremost reason first.  When engaging targets, you start with the closest – the most immediate threat and your highest probability of a kill.  

What about a list where all of the items are essential?  The Army had what they called a METL – mission essential task list – those tasks that a unit must master in order to be mission ready.  No need to prioritize – you had to master all of them to be deemed proficient.   

Consider the Ten Commandments.  The last one says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”   Is the final one the most important?  Jesus was confronted by an expert in the law (a constitutional scholar perchance?) who, hoping to stump him, asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”   
Jesus boiled it down to two.  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.   And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

I don’t think it’s happenstance that the final commandment is all about our neighbor.  How would one show love to his neighbor?  That tenth commandment says it’s by our not doing something – specifically, not coveting what is rightfully his.  That’s the way we do right by our neighbor.  The apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy...”    Quite simply, you cannot covet or envy what your neighbor has.  Even if it’s newer, better, or more attractive.

The benefit to the individual who obeys that commandment is self-evident.  Solomon wisely said, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”  Paul said, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”  Presumably, if you’re  not coveting your neighbor’s stuff, you’ll find more satisfaction in what you do have. 

When I was stationed in Korea, I always enjoyed sharing American idioms with my Korean soldiers.  One in particular was, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”  We even went outside to see that it’s actually true -- no matter which side of the fence you’re on.  After our hands-on experience, SGT Kim knowingly smiled and said, “We have one like that too.  We say your piece of cake is bigger than my piece.”  Anyone who has two or more kids knows the truth of that one. 

The benefit to oneself by not coveting is obvious.  But how does it benefit my neighbor by not envying or coveting “his wife, or his ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor”?  Frankly, it’s an act of love to not desire what’s his.  It will change your attitude towards him.  You’ll be able to be able to rejoice with him.  Arguably, it’s an act of hatred to covet his stuff.

America’s president is playing a very, very dangerous game.  His “fairness” and “income-inequality” talk is fueling covetousness.  Envy may motivate, but it also makes monsters.  Waging class warfare is like playing with fire.  Demonizing the more successful is simply sowing seeds of discontent.  It’s shortsighted and sinful.

As Ben Franklin said, “I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.”  

The belief that the solution is government handouts to the able-bodied may be a good way to buy votes, but it in actuality is robbing people of the dignity that only honest work provides.  Handouts are also a perverse disincentive for those who’d otherwise want to improve their lot in life.

EBT cards may buy votes, but they'll never buy love.   

This column appears in the 25 MAR 2015 Upson Beacon.  Upson County, GA.