Monday’s Musings: The True Cost of Things

Psalm 82:3-5 (NLT) “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.  Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.

When I read this scripture I immediately think that we must absolutely help the poor and the orphan, the oppressed and the destitute.  I’m not just thinking about giving them money – like contributing to the UM Children’s Home.  Although it’s good to support, I’m thinking about speaking up for them where they have no voice or power; seeing that laws are passed that don’t make the justice they receive any less than I might receive.  To those who have much God has given the charge to help the poor and powerless to overcome both of those states.

Then I see the other verses about the oppressors.  “Oppressors” is a loaded word.  We think of the Romans oppressing the Jewish people.  The Psalmist says they are ignorant. That made me look a little closer to home. I immediately thought of the terrible building collapse of the garment factory in Bangladesh that killed over 1100 people, most of them women. Now building inspections have revealed that six out of every 10 factories there are unsafe and they are still full of workers. Most of the clothing produced in Bangladesh is sold in Europe and the US. At least 1,800 garment workers in Bangladesh have died in fires or other disasters in factories since 2005.

Since the April 24th factory collapse, more than 50 international retailers and brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein have signed the groundbreaking Accord for Fire and Building Safety addressing labor conditions in Bangladesh. Despite the public outcry since the collapse, two U.S. apparel giants, the Gap and Wal-Mart, are still refusing to do the right thing by signing the agreement.  Why? Because it would raise the cost of each garment by 10 to 30 cents.

Many people shop at Wal-Mart because they can get affordable clothing and other products there.  But are these shoppers like the oppressors living in darkness?  How aware are we of our participation in the existence of these unsafe working conditions? It’s certainly more complicated than what it might seem on the surface but as Christians I think it’s appropriate for us to make ourselves aware that sometimes our purchases come at a human cost that we would rather not know about. 

Father God, we ask your protection on all those working in terrible, oppressive situations whether they are agricultural workers, garment workers, miners or office workers. Help us to be aware of the true costs of things we buy and help us to do what we can to call for safe working conditions for those who provide the things that make our lives more comfortable.  I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Week
Paige