No Place Like Home

1Woe to those who devise iniquity

and plot evil on their beds!

At morning’s light they accomplish it

because the power is in their hands.

2They covet fields and seize them;

they take away houses.

They deprive a man of his home,

a fellow man of his inheritance. Micah 2: 1-2

 

 

I live in Australia, a country which used to be colloquially known as "The Lucky Country". "The Great Australian Dream" was to own your own home. Post World War 2  Australia prospered on its natural resources and life was comfortable for many. With a large land area and small population home ownership was common. A working class family could afford repayments for a quarter acre block with a modest home on it ; repayments which were geared at one quarter of an average monthly wage for one worker. Typically mothers were full time homemakers.

 

Fast forward to 2025 and Australia still has a large land area and a relatively small population. The dream of owning one's own home, however, is far out of reach for many young people.  High rent costs prohibit many from being able to save a sizable deposit needed for a home loan.

 

The high cost of homes has been exacerbated by a growing number of people who buy houses for investment, not to live in but to make money from. People on lower incomes used to be able to buy starter homes or “fixer uppers”. Older people whose families had grown and moved out used to be able to downsize to smaller houses. Now these more modest homes are being snapped up by those who seemingly have a never ending desire to add to their property portfolio and this includes overseas investors.

 

I am neither a financier or economic analyst but I have to think that we have rapidly become a nation of the needy and the greedy. It’s not uncommon now in the capital city in which I live to hear of people living in tents because they can’t afford to pay rent, or even find a place to rent. Displaced families are living in cars. Young people are faced with the depressing prospect of never being able to afford a home that they can call their own.

 

God is not blind to economic injustice. Throughout the Bible there are many scriptures pointing to wise and fair business practices and economic management. God is very concerned for the poor, the widows and orphans, the sick and disabled. I personally think that it breaks God’s heart to see children living in cars and mentally ill people living under bridges with only cardboard to shelter them from the winter cold. Thank God for those volunteers who provide comfort and food and necessities of life to those people.

 

When people think of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah it is often attributed to the immoral sexual practices of those cities, and to some extent that is true. There was yet another reason:

 

 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.  Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.  Ezekiel 16:49,50

 

 

Many of us feel helpless when it comes to the growing disparity between rich and poor in our nations. Where does God and His church fit into all this?  We need to be in prayer for our nation. Pray for our leaders at federal, state and local levels that they would make wise and just decisions. Pray for our corporate giants in finance and industry that they would conduct their business justly.

 

Wherever you are able, advocate for and help those who are in need. In many ways it is Christian charities which are reaching out to the needy. Personally, we can choose to live simply, be content with what we have and be willing to share with those in need.

 

God will bless those nations and individuals who care for those in need.