Pondering Bastiat’s “The Law” in relation to plunder, alimony, and abortion

Introduction

One good definition provided regarding the law: a system of rules and enforcement mechanisms established by mankind for the purpose of protecting life, liberty, and property of the individual.

Two good presuppositions made regarding the human will:

1. self-preservation and self-development are primary motivations; and
   

2. when one can, they wish to live and prosper at the expense of others.

According to Bastiat, law is the natural outflow from a people group bound together in social contract all accepting these two presuppositions regarding human will.

Thus, the purpose of law is to protect mankind from those who take from another life, liberty, property, and other products of labor by force in the name of self-preservation and self-development while wishing to live and prosper at the expense of others.

In short, the purpose of law is to protect mankind from “plunderers.”

The Earn or Plunder Equation

Two choices in life:

1. To earn: live and satisfy desires through ceaseless labor; or
   

2. To plunder: seize and consume the products of labor of others.

Plundering happens when it is easier than work.

What makes plunder easier than work? Only the law.

Specifically, plunder stops when the law makes it more dangerous and painful than labor (i.e., good law).

Thus, plunder only happens through bad law (i.e., making plunder less dangerous and painful than labor) and the ineffective enforcement of good law.

Note the paradox: in this context, law is both good and bad.

The Application in Alimony and Abortion

Alimony

American wives plunder the pockets of their husbands in alimony because American lawmakers make it easier to steal from the spouse through a “no fault divorce” system (i.e., bad law) rather than to labor through the trials and difficulties of marriage.

So, when you lose half of your belongings and access to your children in a “no fault divorce” proceeding, recognize it is your corrupt country that made the plunder of your pockets and time lost with your children possibile. Be less inclined to blame your spouse and recognize she is simply a product of the human will. She merely desires to seize and consume the products of your labor, because she wishes to live and prosper at your expense.

In other words, if the roles were reversed, you would do the same to her because, apart from being in Christ, you are subject to the same human will.

In other words, the true culprit in your “no fault”divorce is your government.

If that does not give you any relief, my only other advice is to find satisfaction in the truth that 1) it is better to give than to receive and 2) God loves a cheerful giver (i.e., one who gives with the right heart attitude). Cf. Acts 20:35, II Corinthians 6-11; see also Matthew 19:8-9 (describing hardness of heart in divorce).

Lastly, if you are a member of a local church, bring the sin of your “no fault” divorce to your pastor for discussion.

Abortion

American mothers plunder the lives of our babies because American lawmakers make it easier to take the life of the baby than to labor through the hardship and pain required to properly rear up the child.

When you lose your baby because your wife decided it was easier to plunder the life of your child rather than to labor over its rearing, know that your American made laws created by American lawmakers are largely to blame for your baby’s death.

In the earn or plunder equation, these women were given a choice between 1) selfless living and satisfying the desires of their child through ceaseless labor or 2) seizing and consuming the life of the child to gain back time that would have been lost from the forthcoming intensive labor of

satisfying the desires and needs of their child.

In other words, the choice was between stealing a life from a child or laboring to raise the child. The plunder was easier than the work required, because American laws encouraged her saying, “you have a right to kill your baby so you don’t have to labor over rearing it. Plunder the life!”

At the same time, be less inclined to blame your spouse and recognize she is simply a product of the human will. She merely desires to seize and consume the life of her child, because she wishes to preserve her motherless life at the expense of another’s life (her baby).

Also, understand the “legal” murder of your child is not grounds for biblical divorce. Figure out how to forgive her through the grace of God. Understand vengeance belongs to God. And do not plunder her in a “no fault” divorce if she is a working partner. Cf. Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32, Hebrews 12:14, Luke 17:3-4, I Corinthians 6:1-8, 7:10-16, Matthew 19:8-9, Romans 12:19, and Deuteronomy 32:35.

Lastly, if you are a member of a local church, bring the sin to your pastor for discussion.

Questions for Consideration

Can you think of other types of legal plunder other than alimony and abortion?

How does the Lord view plunder, even if it is considered “legal” plunder?