Four days before a month-long trip out of the country, a friend discovered he’d lost his wallet. After scrambling to assemble alternate id and arrange for alternate international payment methods, he went ahead with the trip.
Less than a week later, his homesitter discovered a 40 cents postage due notice in the mail, took it to the post office, and retrieved an envelope containing the wallet with everything intact except for hundreds of dollars in cash, and a note that said,
This social interaction challenges the Thinking Christian Woman with many ethical questions.
- What moral code, worldview, and/or twists and torques of logic lead a person to conclude that the right thing to do is to keep the money and yet return the wallet and its other contents?
- What is the proper response for someone who has been subjected to involuntary charity?
- Is there such a thing as a criminal act of mercy?
Ancient wisdom writings say, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
What do you think?
© 2011 Melody K. Anderson
All Rights Reserved
