God created the earth and offered it as a home for the human family. This home had within it the means to provide for humankind, as it does today. Yet as in biblical times, we find that the earth's bounty is often unequally distributed in our time. More than this: in today's world, a small percentage of the world's people live in unprecedently affluence, while a full one-quarter of earth's people live in absolute poverty. These realities raise questions about what is "fair" when it comes to apportioning the earth's goodness; about what forces are at work in making this apportionment a reality; about whether all have the God-given "right" to adequate material resources; about our responsibility to practice sustainability in our relationship with the planet; and about what role God plays, or doesn't play, in dividing up the material wealth of the earth.

In many stories throughout the scriptures, it is clear that God's intention is that the earth's goodness be shared by all. The creation story reveals a world made available to all humankind. Later, God blesses Abraham and Sarah so that through them all the families of the earth might be blessed. In the Jubilee teachings of Leviticus, people who have lost their land are given land again and invited to start over. In the Psalms, the affirmation is made repeatedly that "the earth is the Lord's"—not humankind's to apportion as we please. The prophets are tireless in their call for justice—that is, everyone being given fair access to the earth's goodness.

In the New Testament, John the Baptist calls for the sharing of goods as a sign of becoming right with God. Jesus warns repeatedly against the lure of mammon (materialism), and calls for freedom from being possessed by possessions. In his parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Jesus makes clear our responsibility to share with those in need. In the parable of the last judgement in Matthew 25, entire nations are held accountable for how they responded to the needs of those at the margins of society. James blames war itself on our coveting of others' goods.

The Our Fair Share series invites us to think about the manner in which we have divided up and made use of the earth. Who has what? How does this compare to others? How are our lifestyles affecting the present health and future viability of the planet? What can we do if we want to live more sustainably toward the earth, more fairly toward our neighbors, and more focused on God's call—and less on the lure of advertisers.

Take a look at the series; in doing so, you'll be taking a look at yourself. Will you like what you see? Can you see yourself living some other—and perhaps fairer—way? There's only one way to find out, check out the resources below.