Who Does His "Fair Share"?

There is a sentence from an unidentified author which says in substance: “There is no limit to the good a man can do, if he doesn’t care who gets the credit.” But sometimes the good that could be done is slowed down by petty comparisons—by people who want to make sure they don’t do more than their share.

A common complaint among children is expressed in the familiar phrase: “I’ve done more than he has”—and with great emphasis on taking turns. The feeling is sometimes found in families where someone feels sure he is getting less or giving more than his “fair share.”

Parents, generally, do their best to divide favors and obligations fairly, but they cannot always weigh and measure each gift, each advantage, each chore, each assignment, with mathematical accuracy. And what is a “fair share” under some circumstances may not be a “fair share” under others. So many variables and unpredictable factors enter in that it is impossible for a strict and technical measuring of every task.

But if there were to be a strict and technical measuring of every task, it would be readily apparent that the preponderance of performance would almost always rest most heavily upon parents.

And as between parents, there is a necessary division of labor that can seldom be measure as to who does more. And since parents are willing to work as a team without trying too closely to measure their respective tasks, so should children be, with the spirit of willingness instead of the spirit of petty comparison.

In every close association of people, there must be much of give and take, with understanding hearts, and without being too technical. With such a spirit a home can be a heaven (and so could a country or a community).

Even the least of us is so much the receiver, that if we were to weigh and measure all we have against our own effort, there would be reason for all of us always to be profoundly grateful—and sometimes perhaps somewhat ashamed—because all we have, others have helped us to have, and all that we are, the Lord God gave us. We are always in His debt and ever shall be, and we are always in the debt of parents and other people, present and past.

May we never be guilty of withholding service, of withholding willing work because of our effort exceeds that of someone else.

If everyone were to hold back his service, his willing work, both materially and inside our very souls we should be a poor and pitiable people.