Which team?

Every time the Olympics come around, we see athletes from one country competing for another. Core identities surface in surprising ways.

Lately, I have been reading Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25). People arrive together before the King, bearing one of many national flags. But soon, they are individually reorganized into one of two teams: sheep or goats. The sheep have already been with Jesus, caring for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner. They will continue on with Jesus. The goats ⏤ GOATs ⏤ never saw themselves as part of that team. And never will for all eternity.

Reckoning myself rescued

Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. ⏤ Psalm 116:7

Death surrounds me: violence, hatred, dishonesty, pride, arrogance. Into this world I was born. And from its patterns I have been rescued. I will reckon myself an observer of this death, not its participant. I dwell in a consulate, an outpost of eternal life on the edges of Sheol. There’s a Welcome mat at the door.

Who contributes more?

One measure of an economy’s strength is the Labor Force Participation Rate. What percentage of the population (non-government, non-military) is employed or looking for a job? A common gripe I hear is that too few people contribute to our economy.

I think an argument can be made that trust is a greater economic stimulus than man-hours. How much capital and cash flow are wasted because of a lack of trust? What effect does distrust have on investment and employment? Seen this way, some wealthy, employed people actually undermine the economy by eroding trust. And others who may not earn a paycheck contribute to a more trusting society in ways that invigorate the economy. Who contributes more?