An economic philosophy

Ekev

Deut. 7:12 - 11:25

Précis: Moses continues his recapitulation of the commandments to the people, reminding them to be obedient to God’s laws in their forthcoming struggle with the Canaanites. He describes in detail all of the blessings which God had already provided them, and reminds them to bless and thank God for the bounty they receive. On the other hand, they should follow the rebelliousness of their fathers, including the incident of the Golden Calf, punishment will occur.

Deut. 8:10 "When you have eaten your fill, and have built fine houses to live in, and your herds and flocks have multiplied . . . beware lest your heart grow haughty and . . . you say to yourselves, 'My own power and the might of my own hand have won this wealth for me.'. . . Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to get wealth . . ."

One key teaching of this week's parasha is that wealth originates with God.  The text here is a basis for what we might call Jewish economic philosophy. This philosophy reminds us that we who are fortunate enough to accumulate wealth are merely stewards of God’s bounty, and as stewards, we have the responsibility to see to the needs of the poorest among us. As our text repeats so often, these are the fatherless, the widow, and the stranger. 

Our sense of social responsibility is totally oppositional to those who worship at the altar of private property, and who scorn those who lack the necessities of life as deserving of their status. This is not a merely political difference; rather, it is at its heart a remarkable moral distinction. A Jewish view is that the generation of wealth is in fact a collective effort, with God at its center. We do not become wealthy solely by our own efforts.  

It is quite obvious that in American society at large, we focus on the generation and growth of wealth. Rather than assuming economic success is a sign of God’s approval, we should remember that we are stewards of His bounty, and as stewards, we have responsibility to use our wealth to enhance the society in which we live.