More About GENEROSITY and KINDNESS

Last time, I asked, "How should we behave toward our fellow human beings who are less fortunate than we?" I want to explore a related question this month. How do we become "ethical"? Where do we learn ethical behavior? Who or what teaches us respect for the other person?

The Abrahamic traditions benefit from a long and rich history of values development. Most of us recognize the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20, and Deuteronomy 5) given to Moses as a main basis for how we should relate to God and to one another.

I have a long-standing interest in the substance of the book of Proverbs, because it represents (for me) the distillation of our common sense about how our behaviors affect our lives and those around us. I remember hearing bits of the Book of Proverbs quoted in my home when I was growing up. Perhaps you do too. So I credit that Book as one source of my own training toward "right behavior."

Part of the "Books of Truth" section of the Hebrew Bible, Proverbs provides a basis for the education of young Jews. Its influence reaches more broadly, too, as it forms part of the basis of the values of Christianity and Islam. This is where we can find much good advice about how to behave with others. For example, Proverbs 1:10 says, "My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them." The succeeding verses talk about ambushing someone, and taking his material possessions. Murder and theft are prohibited in the Ten Commandments, and the prohibition is reinforced here.

The Qur'an teaches the same lesson. In 5:105, we read, "Believers, guard your own souls. The person who has gone astray cannot hurt you if you are rightly guided." In both these teachings, we're warned to avoid following the lure of others whose behaviors do not reflect the scriptures' instructions.

Our Abrahamic traditions also teach justice -- fair treatment of others. For example, the Qur'an teaches that we should deal justly with all other people, regardless of how we feel about them. At 5:8, we read, "Do not allow your hatred for other men to turn you away from justice. Deal justly; that is nearer to true piety." And at 4:135, we see that Muslims are instructed to seek justice even when it goes against themselves or those they love: "Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor..."

Perhaps one of the most straight-forward instructions to act justly tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Christians accept Jesus' teaching of the "greatest commandment" in Matthew 22:36-40 as the most fundamental statement of what it means to act like a Christian.

Proverbs 11:24-25 teaches us how to love our neighbors, saying that generosity toward others will be a reward in itself: "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." And the Qur'an emphasizes that point too, at 2:177: "The righteous man is he who ... gives away his wealth to his kinsfolk, to orphans, to the helpless, to the traveler in need and to beggars, and for the redemption of captives..."

Generosity, justice, and adhering to your sense of what's right -- these lessons are taught in all of our holy scriptures. It's up to us to learn our lessons, and to act accordingly.