Along with many other Australians, I am disappointed that our Government has recently cut 1 billion dollars in aid from our Budget and today’s budget will not make that up. But I can’t help but believe also that the answer to this moral and ethical dilemma is in our own hands.
There are 12 million working Australians. The average weekly earnings is $1,500 prior to tax. Around the world there are many aid agencies who feed and educate the world’s poorest and most vulnerable. If each wage earning Australian, when planning their own budget, channelled 1% more of their earnings more than they already donate to one of these organisations, we as Australians would contribute a staggering sum of over 9 billion dollars in aid.
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35
We are a wealthy country. In fact, Australia’s median wealth (the wealth of the middle wealthiest person in Australia) is the highest in the world, at $258,000.
If you don’t personally relate to that dollar sum, consider these salient facts –
- If you have $4,622, including the value of your home and assets, you’re among the wealthiest half of the people in the world.
- To be in membership of the top 10% of wealthiest people in the world, the requirement is $97,509.
A quick way to estimate where you sit in the world wealth stakes is this calculator – https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/get-involved/how-rich-am-i
But our wealth has not made us the world’s happiest place. The latest United Nations World Happiness Report ranked Australia 10th in the happiness stakes.
Perhaps giving more to those in need would make us happier? It’s a thought!
Don’t neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16