Family story: my great-great grandfather Coleman, a farmer near Lisbon in upstate New York near the St. Lawrence River, one summer had the usual crop of hay during a drought, because his low-lying land was near the river. Even though hay prices were rising rapidly, he sold his crop to his usual customer at the normal price. Several years later, when his first child went off to school, his customer ordered his sons to protect John Coleman’s son, small for his age, a blessing for both father and son Coleman. (Today’s urban schools, by the way, have nothing in the way of violence on many 19th Century rural schools.)
America’s market-oriented farmers today sell grain on the open market, aiming for the highest price. Timing sales (holding back grain) rarely hurts anyone. If Americans don’t sell grain, then Australia’s farmers will. But in a world without international markets and good transportation, a farmer who withheld grain from sale to take advantage of a poor harvest would make neighbors go hungry, or bankrupt when the price later rose sharply. The grain was his, of course, and he would be within his rights not to sell it until he chose, but hungry and cash-strapped neighbors would curse him. Greed for a high price would show lack of neighborly love. “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him (I John 3:17)?”
What is a contemporary equivalent of withholding grain? Life-saving medicines! When Mylan acquired a monopoly on the patent-expired Epipen, they raised its price six hundred per cent in ten years, increasing profits and executive salaries hugely. It was legal. But it caused real hardships for people who need to carry an Epipen in case of anaphylaxis caused by an allergic reaction. So people and Congress justifiably cursed Mylan and its soulless executives. Those who defend such corporate behavior in the name of capitalist economics, or market wisdom, reveal their own commitment to ideology rather than to love of neighbor. In contrast, when Jonas Salk, who developed the first successful polio vaccine in 1955, was asked who owned its patent, he answered, “There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?”
People who control products necessary for life, like food or medicines, and decline to press their economic advantage to its fullest show the quality of mercy, of which Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7).” Solomon teaches that there will be a blessing on the head of such people, from neighbors no doubt, but also from God. The wise will covet such blessings more than the windfall profit from the providentially granted possession of grain in a time of poor harvest. That windfall profit comes with people cursing the profiteer.
Dr. Bill Edgar, former chair of the Geneva College Board of Trustees, former Geneva College President and longtime pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)
------
Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Mar 5, 2020
Faithful Doubt: Habakkuk, written by pastor Travis Scott, explores the short prophetic book of Habakkuk, in a practical and meaningful way through the lens of a doubter. Travis approaches the passage of scripture from an honest and humble perspective, recalling difficulties experienced as a husband, father, and pastor.
Dr. J. Ligon Duncan of Reformed Theological Seminary delivered the spring 2021 Commencement address at Geneva College on May 10, 2021. Here is an excerpt of that message, entitled, "Every Good Work," from 2 Timothy 3. This excerpt first appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of Geneva Magazine.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
As busy as college students are, it can be profoundly beneficial for them to seek out and engage in a routine Bible study. Diving deeper into their faith, exploring what the world’s challenges mean to them, and creating a Christian-based path forward can give any college student the direction he or she needs to achieve their best life. Still, it’s not always easy to make that decision—instead of a night with friends or yet another study session for a high-level math class, go to Bible study instead.
Handing our cares and worries over to God gives us peace which keeps us from falling into doubt, as stated in Philippians. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
What should someone with wealth do? Solomon writes, “Pay attention to it and know its condition.” He uses the example of sheep and goats. Wise parents blessed with wealth will teach their children how to work to maintain it. Wise children will accept the burdens of responsibility that go with family wealth, always remembering that riches do not last forever.
The Book of Proverbs has no use for the gullible, viewing them as willful fools. Even when everyone else can see a hateful, deceitful person for what he is, the gullible choose to believe gracious words.
At Easter, a good question to ask is, "How are people saved?" This should be a question that Christians can easily answer, and indeed most can. However, sometimes Christians are less knowledgeable about the doctrine of justification and its important distinctions than perhaps they should be.
How should leaders deal with difficult situations in difficult times? Geneva College’s John Gallo and Jenna Bieber provide a guidebook for leaders. "Lessons from Cain and Abel to Guide Leaders Through Turbulent Times" walks readers through the account of Cain and Abel to teach leaders the importance of justice, mercy, harmony and equality.
Learn more about Geneva College.
Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.
© Geneva College | All rights reserved
