The Sanctity of Human Contract
As a result of diminishing control of oneself, our generation finds it difficult to keep their word. Keeping one's word is closely connected to self-discipline or self-government. Once a person loses self-control, it's very difficult for him to stay in a commitment whether it is in work or a relationship. And that's where the importance of human agreement or contract comes in.
There are many types of human agreements or contracts: education, employment, marriage contract, church membership, ministers' ordination, business contracts, public office, and international treaties. And with the advent of blockchain technology, we now have smart contracts.
If I am not mistaken, due to growing distrust in centralized entities whether political or financial, many freedom-loving people consider blockchain technology as heaven-sent. Anyhow, to touch the tech aspect of contracts is beyond the scope of this article. It is enough for us to realize that man as God's image, relates to his fellow man in terms of agreement or contract, either written or simply verbal (or codified in the crypto space). The important point is the integrity of one's word or promise. This would mean that you will keep what you said regardless of the discomfort or pain that your promise will cost you.
Based on Genesis 21 verses 22 to 34, here we find a kind of human contract or agreement in the form of a treaty between two national leaders, Abraham and Abimelech.
The sanctity of human agreements or contracts is based on the recognition of divine presence.
We do not know much about Abimelech and Phicol. Though they are not part of the covenant people, still in themselves they recognized the existence of God. They have a high respect for the presence of God displayed in the life of Abraham. Based on their recognition of God's presence, they wanted to create a treaty with Abraham. They said to him:
God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God. . ."
Modern men consider people like Abimelech and Phicol as primitive men for believing in the existence of God. If belief in the existence of God is primitivity, I think I would rather prefer primitivity than modernity.
Modern man wants to disconnect everything from God. As a result, people suffer. The negative result is not immediately seen; it takes time. Ultimately, rejecting God is the sure path to the destruction of any civilization, nation, and individual. The word of the prophet Hosea is not only suitable for Israel and the church but also for nations and individuals that reject God:
You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against me, against your helper (Hosea 13:9).
One thing I notice about the recognition of Abimelech and Phicol of God's presence, they claim that they see Him in everything that Abraham did. This means that Abraham had a true religion. His faith in God is not just a matter of intellectual exercise, but a daily reality. This manifests in everything he does, and his surrounding nations saw the difference God made in his life.
How I wish the same thing would be said by the world about the modern church. Unfortunately, what the world is saying in our time is different. They say that your doctrines are good, but the testimony of Christians is not; there is no difference between the people of the world and the people of God.
Another thing that we notice here is that both Abimelech and Phicol have a sense of morality, of what is right and wrong, of false dealing and kindness. Where did they get this idea of morality? I believe that they got it from previous revelation of God either from the time of Adam or the time of Noah. And such revelation is confirmed within their conscience, that indeed, right and wrong exist.
In our time, the concept of right and wrong is now confused. Practices that were considered immoral before are now exalted in the name of rights and freedom. The most notorious example is same-sex marriage. Before, it was the consensus of society that such practice was immoral. Today, humanists shifted the discussion from morality to rights and freedom. Those who oppose same-sex marriage are considered narrow-minded, judgmental, and tyrannical. People's moral values change because unlike Abimelech and Phicol, an increasing number of people today not only do not recognize the existence of God, but they consider those who believe in God's existence as irrational, blind, and fanatic. No wonder, many people these days do not honor their words for they do not acknowledge that agreements are sacred for they made them without recognizing the existence of God.
The sanctity of human contracts or agreements entails the correction of economic injustice done in the past.
After Abraham gave his answer to Abimelech and Phicol, he also brought to their attention a misdeed that was done against him by Abimelech's servants. By doing this, Abraham believed that for the treaty to be done in truth and justice, wrongdoing done in the past must be corrected.
Let us observe two things at this point:
First, what the servants of Abimelech did was an act of seizure. This is theft, a violation of private property. If Abimelech was a king, the equivalent of his servants today would be the bureaucrats, those who possess police power.
Second, Abimelech said that he didn't know what his servants did. This is an example of ancient corruption in politics.
So we have here bureaucratic theft and political corruption resulting in economic injustice. Such theft and corruption are inherent in political power. That's why the statement of Lord Acton is correct:
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Such theft and corruption are not confined to Abraham's time. They also happen today. Its modern form is more subtle and sophisticated, but it is nevertheless a violation of the 8th commandment:
Thou shall not steal.
In our time, according to Gary North, this commandment of God has been circumvented by a majority vote. The 8th commandment has a new version:
Thou shall not steal except by majority vote.
If the majority decides to increase your income and your property tax to fund political programs, you cannot do anything against it. Those who oppose it will certainly suffer the full force of the law. This is one of the root causes of today's economic injustice and crisis.
Swearing for public office will only mean something if there is both a sincere intention and action on the part of politicians to repeal those laws that generate economic injustice. These humanistic laws are in direct opposition to the moral law of God. Without repealing them, the sanctity of human agreement in terms of public office and private property is just an empty show.
Honoring the sanctity of human contracts or agreements leads to peace.
Wells of water were scarce and considered valuable resources during the time of Abraham. They are used for numerous purposes. To own a well is vital in maintaining and growing one's wealth. By giving Abimelech seven ewe lambs, Abraham wanted them to serve as a witness that he owned the well. In our time, its equivalent would be a land title. This act of Abraham would prevent future disputes about ownership of the well.
As you can see from this story, as early as the time of Abraham, we see that the Bible shows us that private property is a basic part of the reality of life. Without private property, the act of seizure on the part of Abimelech's servants would not make sense. We see here that the Bible is opposed to any form of socialism for its essence is none other than the construction of society in which the means of production are socialized, which means the absence of private property. We see that in the USSR; it didn't work, which caused its collapse in 1989. We also see that in North Korea. It produces nothing but poverty. Now China has abandoned it and allowed private property and a free market to some extent, and as a result, their economy started to grow.
Let us go back to our text:
After getting the "deed" or the "title" to the well, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree. A tamarisk tree serves various purposes such as "ornamental shrub, a windbreak, a shade tree," and even as part of an "anti-desertification program," (Source: Wikipedia). Commentators have different opinions as to the significance of its planting. Among several interpretations, I agree with the idea that it is a sign of Abraham's peaceful ownership of the well and it serves "as a memorial of the transaction about the well." The idea of peace is closely connected to the planting of the tamarisk tree.
When land is under dispute, there is no incentive to cultivate and plant. Planting trees is an economic act. Besides serving as a sign of ownership and a memorial of the treaty, I believe that the tamarisk tree is a symbol of peace and economic growth on the part of Abraham and his family. Ludwig von Mises makes a very insightful statement about the connection between peace and economic action. He said:
Economic action demands stable conditions. The more extensive and lengthy process of production is, the more successful the greater the periods to which it is adapted. It demands continuity, and this continuity cannot be disturbed without the most serious disadvantages. This means that economic action requires peace and the exclusion of violence.
In the US, private property has been under attack for some time, and it is now being intensified. Progressive and liberal politicians do this through taxation. Workers with higher salaries are taxed more than 50% of their income and tax on corporations is the highest all over the world. As a result, many businessmen are renouncing their citizenship and looking for countries friendly to their capital. Productive employees also want to follow the same direction. (Note: This phenomenon was taking place when I first wrote this piece. I am not sure if this is still happening today).
So based on the Bible, economics, and current experience, any act of violence against property makes the society unstable. It promotes hostility and fear. Without peace, economic activity becomes uncertain, and crisis follows. On the other hand, if private property is protected, meaning human agreements or contracts are honored and considered sacred, then there will be peace, and economic productivity is its natural outcome.
Conclusion
The sanctity of human agreements or contracts is based on the recognition of divine presence, entails correction of economic injustice, and leads to peace.
The tamarisk tree does not only serve as a sign of peaceful ownership and economic activity but is also used by Abraham as a place of worship. This shows that for Abraham the practice of his religion is both private as well as public. Under the shade of the tamarisk tree, Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbors might join. This tells us that we should neither neglect nor be ashamed of our public worship of God.
Another alarming trend in our time is the consensus that matters of faith must be kept personal and private and should not be brought into the public sphere for to do so promotes religious discrimination. Many people believe this idea. This indicates the success of secular humanism in our education, which is the dominant religion today and causes all kinds of crises that we are witnessing in our time.
The Christian response to all these challenges is to continue praying. Pray for the revival of Christianity for Christians to see that redemption starts in personal transformation, but it doesn't end there; personal transformation should affect families and societies and all the institutions in them. Pray that Christians will realize that the gospel's power is as extensive as the impact of sin. In short, as the impact of sin is comprehensive, so is redemption. Pray that Christians will realize that neutrality between secular humanism and Christianity is a myth. Pray that Christians will see that we have a responsibility as ambassadors of Christ on earth to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4). Pray that Christians will truly live out the truth that all power in heaven and on earth is already in Christ's hands. Pray that the people of God will realize that we have to proclaim the whole counsel of God, to disciple all nations since the work of redemption is already complete and Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of the Father, reigning until the time that all his enemies will submit under his rule.