Who are the "fortunate"?

The report is out! Eight, yes 8, individuals have as much wealth as the rest of the world combined. This is down from 16 just a year ago. Some say they are VERY fortunate. Some believe the fortunate are getting more fortunate at the expense of everyone else. Some say their fortune makes them "privileged." Some of course say they are greedy and this is unfair. 

The judgment one makes depends of their assumptions of fortune, greed, and fairness. In fact everything we think, feel and do is influenced by several basic core assumptions like these. In this case, fortune is assumed to be material benefit from one;s own hard work and effort. Fair is assumed to be either that people deserve what they earn based on what they risk or everyone deserves the same regardless of what risks they take.

There are some ancient writings that suggest a different core assumption on what makes someone "fortunate." You may ASSUME that what was known thousands of years ago is not relevant today. The world has changed quite a bit since then and truth must keep pace with progressive cultures. Others may ASSUME however that truth is more stable and doesn't waiver across time and advances in science and technology. You are quite familiar with the market economy and the ways people build fortunes by risk and reward. You may not be as familiar with the ancient view of "fortunate" that relies on a totally different assumption about privilege. That is, fortune is bestowed on us by some power that has the resources and will to provide us everything we need independent of our efforts. This is not an assumption of fairness that is risk free. In contrast, in this assumption of fortune, the risk is not trusting the one who has the power and will to act on our behalf.

Here are a couple of points made about this assumption of "the fortunate":

1. being "fortunate" is recognizing we are absolutely destitute in our ability to even produce one breath of our own life. In this case we have the privilege to receive all that our soul needs from the one who can provide it. Our soul needs purpose, hope, freedom, esteem and a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves. These needs are fully met as someone has gladly chosen to satisfy them because he wants to.

2. being "fortunate" is recognizing that every thought and emotion is under the control of the one who meets our needs. This guarantees that we do not have anxiety, fear, despair, and even pride because we no longer depend on exchanging our actions with the world around us for our fortune. 

3. being "fortunate" occurs as our motives have not one iota of self-centeredness. When we have no desire to meet our own needs through our own efforts and can trust the one who desires to bestow on us everything we need, then we can fully see (hear and interact with) the one who loves us so much. Now that is being fortunate!!!

These are only a few of the ways we are "fortunate" that contrast to what our culture says makes us "fortunate." We can sit by and trust that material wealth would come our way and make us fortunate if we could figure out the best way to earn it. OR we can connect with the one who waits patiently, willing and able to bestow on us all that makes us "fortunate".

Before you have a clear and accurate view of the world and "what makes you fortunate", you have an important set of core assumptions that determine your b4worldview.

Your b4worldview is our business @ www.b4worldview.com