Economic Life (4) Building Safety

Loving your neighbour means that you care about your neighbour’ safety. Every member of the community was required to keep their building safe, so that people who entered their property would not come to harm.

When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof (Deut 22:8).

This principle can be generalised to a variety of situations. Any activity that people undertake, whether personal or business, must be safe for neighbours. Businesses must design their businesses and factories so they do not do harm to their neighbours. Retailers must design their stores, so that people who visit to shop are kept safe. Businesses cannot ignore the consequences of their actions. They are responsible for their neighbour’s blessing.

Special care was required for people who are disabled in some way.

Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD (Lev 19:14).

Every member of the community has an obligation to ensure that they do not come to harm.