Voices: Justice looks like wisdom: Abundance vs. scarcity

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EDITOR’S NOTE: “Justice looks like …” is a special series in the Voices column. Readers will have the opportunity to consider justice from numerous viewpoints. The series is based on each writer’s understanding of Scripture and relationship with Jesus Christ. Writers present their own views independent of any institution, unless otherwise noted in their bios.

You are encouraged to listen to each writer without prejudgment. Then, engage in conversation with others around you about what justice looks like to you.

Click here for more information about the series. Click here to read the full “Justice looks like…” series.


Justice looks like wisdom. Proverbs defined the good life as the establishment of justice, righteousness and equity. We define the good life as accumulation of enough resources to keep us safe.

Throughout Scripture, we see wisdom is meant for the whole society, not just the individual. For any of us to flourish, it is wise that we enact justice that allows all of us to flourish. But, do we believe this is an abundant world where all of us can flourish?

Abundance vs. scarcity

Walter Brueggemann argues the book of Exodus is about the contest between the liturgy of abundance and the myth of scarcity. He states, “The Pharaoh in Genesis 47, like Hitler after him, is afraid that there aren’t enough good things to go around, he must try to have them all.”

Joseph is recruited to manage the monopoly. You know the rest of the story. A Pharaoh rose over Egypt who knew not Joseph. Once partners, the people of Israel became slaves.

The myth of scarcity is the greatest obstacle to justice in our time or Joseph’s.

When justice and equity were forfeited for the sake of profit, the prophets protested. Israel became like any other nation. They inverted the promises of the Abrahamic covenant. Instead of being blessed to be a blessing, they cursed their enemies, hoarded their resources and lost their sense of vocation.


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Today, Pharaoh’s heirs and surrogates justify selfishness through myth-making—aka “Fake News”—and stereotyping that turns neighbor against neighbor. For instance, the myth of the welfare queen or lazy poor people: We justify hoarding resources by saying if “they”—and you know who they are—worked hard enough, they could break out of the cycle of poverty.

But it’s expensive to be poor. If you miss a bill, you get fined. If you get a loan, you have to pay back higher interest. If you don’t have enough money in the bank, you are charged monthly fees. If you ever overdraft your account because your paycheck doesn’t hit the bank at just the right time, then you are penalized with more fees. The system doesn’t want you out of the cycle.

The myth of scarcity turns partners into rivals. We desacralize the poor and those we deem unworthy of justice, hollowing out the hallowed image of God in them, so we can dehumanize and justify our selfishness.

Choosing between the two

Proverbs 18 implores us: “He who isolates himself pursues his desires; he disdains all competence. The fool does not desire understanding, but only to air his thoughts.”

During the past 18 months the foolishness of isolationism has been laid bare. Now, it seems vaccine hesitancy has fed the fires of a fourth COVID surge just in time for the start of a new school year.

The poet John Donne speaks prophetically: “No man is an island … and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

We clearly see the importance of paid sick leave for essential workers who feel pressure to go to work even though they have COVID symptoms, because if they miss a paycheck, they will face eviction. Health care for all is looking more and more like wisdom in a world as small as ours.

Yet, we will not know wisdom until we stop giving fools platforms and clicking ‘likes’ on lies. Justice looks like wisdom. Wisdom builds up communities rather than stoking the fires of culture wars with misinformation.

The myth of scarcity obstructs any effort to work for justice. It is cloaked as righteous fear and speaks in the rhetoric of “what-aboutism:” “What about the looters?” “What about the violence in the streets?” “What about issue X that’s never mentioned?”

The obstacles are within each of us. Police enforce my prejudice. Politicians enact public policy that assuages my fears. Preachers like me preach to keep people in pews.

And the doubts creep as Pharaoh’s fears become our own. Do I have enough to be safe? Will there be enough for me? The contest of Exodus continues.

We must choose: Do we believe in Pharaoh’s economy or the God who provides? There is only one wise choice.

Garrett Vickrey is the senior pastor of Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio. He is a graduate of Baylor University and the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. He and his wife Cameron have three elementary-aged daughters. The views expressed are those solely of the author.

Click here to read the full “Justice looks like…” series.

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