Much discussion has taken place throughout the last several months over the divide between the “rich” and the “poor.” In my own office a lively conversation ensued over whether rich people should just turn over a portion of their earnings to the poor.
In September of ’05 a senator on the campaign trail took aim at the
most profitable sector in our economy (oil companies), to state that
“Human nature…is going to push the limit…you need a government
regulatory system…to make the rules of the game fair.” The senator
could have been speaking of any “big business.” The statement about
human nature may be true. All these wealthy entities are run by
individuals, and they are indeed human.
First, can we agree that, of itself, being rich is not something of
which to be ashamed?
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). In Haggai 2:8
God says, “The silver is mine and the gold is mine.” Yet there are
biblical passages where we read of rich men who were consigned to hell.
But even so, 3rd John 2:2 states “Beloved, I pray that in all
respects you may prosper and be in good health....”
It is God’s express will that His children prosper, and much scripture supports that view. However, God also has a condition that goes along with the “prosper” – He specified even as thy soul prospers.
The soul is comprised of the mind, will and emotions – the human nature
of which the senator spoke. We don’t need a mammoth system of
government regulations to tell us how to act.
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of
death,” Proverbs 16:25.
Some rich men noted in the Bible were condemned because they did not
rightly use their wealth. Their human nature told them to build more
barns, make more profit, and keep all the wealth for themselves.
But what if a rich man was a “God-minded” man? He would not be
driven by human nature, but be inspired by the Spirit of God to do
useful, helpful things with his wealth. In biblical times, if any
harvest was left in the field, the harvesters were not to retrieve it,
but leave it for the poor to glean.
In modern times, a wealthy person could sow (give) funding into
training programs for people to learn skills to obtain higher paying
jobs, or create a business which employs people. People who enjoy a
rich relationship with God will also sow seed into ministries that
teach people how to live a life of partnership with God, teach them how
to live and thereby prosper.
The people in our government seem to believe that by trying to
legislate more of what we do and what we think, then they can create
better lives for citizens of this nation. But human nature will spoil
the plan every time.
Think of an individual who is devoted to God, who obeys His
precepts, and seeks to have the mind of Christ. That individual will
prosper in his ways and family life, and by extension, prosper his
community, his county, his state and eventually his nation.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 tells us to - cast your bread on the waters, and
you will find it again after many days.
In my experience, when I cast bread (sow seed) for the purpose of
blessing other people, God sends it back to me buttered. Try looking at
wealth as a tool for blessing others, and you will never be the same
again..
Co-Editors
Tim Greenwood
Marcia Greenwood
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