revjohn
Well-Known Member
Jesus said that it would be easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. I take that to mean difficult but not impossible. The scriptures present a multifaceted view of richness, and how people live in it. Job is wealthy. God proclaims him righteous before Satan and the host of heaven assembled. A young ruler has done everything required of him by the law save for giving his money to the poor. Does the young ruler go away sad because he keeps trying to give it away unsuccessfully or because it is something he cannot bring himself to let go of?
I think we create problems when we automatically equate wealth with God's favour as if the state of our bank account is directly proportionate to God's love for us. A parable of storing grain and building a bigger barn cuts that belief off at the knees without suggesting for a moment that the problem was the actual wealth and not the devotion to it.
What if money is given to us as any gift that is given by the Holy Spirit? That would mean it is meant to be used not hoarded all to one's self. Making a profit is something that Jesus suggests is commended (Parable of the Talents) though it is interesting to note that the benefactor of that profit is not the servant who succeeds. The money was their master's and the profit goes to their master, their reward is increased responsibility not a fat wallet of their own.
I think we create problems when we automatically equate wealth with God's favour as if the state of our bank account is directly proportionate to God's love for us. A parable of storing grain and building a bigger barn cuts that belief off at the knees without suggesting for a moment that the problem was the actual wealth and not the devotion to it.
What if money is given to us as any gift that is given by the Holy Spirit? That would mean it is meant to be used not hoarded all to one's self. Making a profit is something that Jesus suggests is commended (Parable of the Talents) though it is interesting to note that the benefactor of that profit is not the servant who succeeds. The money was their master's and the profit goes to their master, their reward is increased responsibility not a fat wallet of their own.