Questions About Prosperity and Christianity
I'm wrestling with some questions that I know many people have already settled in their minds.
The basic question is this: Is hoarding material resources compatible with Christianity?
Sounds simple enough, right? Some of you think, "Well obviously, yes. We get what we earn." Others think, "Well obviously, no. How can it be right for some people to live lavishly while billions are dying of starvation and disease? Doesn't this violate the Second Great Commandment of Jesus?"
The answer to the question I posed rests on the answers to a couple of other questions:
1. Are material resources limited or infinite?
2. If they are limited, is it Christian to try to outwork others in order to get a bigger piece of the pie?
This gets at the essence of the “trickle down” theory. The trickle down theory assumes that resources are unlimited. The question is, are they? Or do the rich necessarily get rich at the expense of the poor?
My inkling is that the answer to question #2 is, No. What I am most concerned about is answering question #1. Until that question is definitively answered, I'm not sure we have much ground for grappling with the second.
What do you think?
The basic question is this: Is hoarding material resources compatible with Christianity?
Sounds simple enough, right? Some of you think, "Well obviously, yes. We get what we earn." Others think, "Well obviously, no. How can it be right for some people to live lavishly while billions are dying of starvation and disease? Doesn't this violate the Second Great Commandment of Jesus?"
The answer to the question I posed rests on the answers to a couple of other questions:
1. Are material resources limited or infinite?
2. If they are limited, is it Christian to try to outwork others in order to get a bigger piece of the pie?
This gets at the essence of the “trickle down” theory. The trickle down theory assumes that resources are unlimited. The question is, are they? Or do the rich necessarily get rich at the expense of the poor?
My inkling is that the answer to question #2 is, No. What I am most concerned about is answering question #1. Until that question is definitively answered, I'm not sure we have much ground for grappling with the second.
What do you think?
I think it has to do with how one regards their prosperity. Who does it really belong too? Hoarding appears to be a "lack of trust issue." This violates not only the second great command of Jesus, but the first also.
ReplyDeleteCan a person really love someone with all their heart, soul, and mind, yet not care about what the one they love cares about? God spoke much about loving, and in the context of love the word "give" is very prominent. Storing up treasure here on earth is not what we should do. It must be treasure to our heart because "hoarding it" is contrary to what God says. To go against God means something is wrong with the reasoning, and its very important to the individual. "Consider the birds of the air, the lilies of the field."
But the biggest problem is the lie that if we hoard enough, our dependence on God will diminish. If God doesn't come through for us, we will still be ok. Don't worry about the billions starving, and disease ridden, worry about the "hoarder" whose soul is disease ridden, and spirit is starving.
The question is always asked, "What constitutes hoarding? When do wealth and possessions become too much?" There's no definitive answer to that, and it's complicated by the fact that the Bible has examples of people who were wealthy and not condemned for it. I think the way one should approach this issue is by asking the questions the Bible asks rather than the ones we want to ask. The questions the Bible asks are these:
ReplyDeleteAre you willing to give it all away if God asks it of you? (e.g., the rich young ruler)
Do you give generously and sacrificially to those in need, or merely out of your abundance?
Are you living a life of contentedness, or are you always saving up for the next best thing?
Do you view all you have (time, talents, treasure) as resources that God has given you to steward for Him in order to wisely appropriate them, or simply see them as gifts for your sole enjoyment?
You're right, anon1, attitude is critical. But sometimes we placate our consciences by asking only safe questions.
Thanks for your insightful comments.
It may not be a question of how much one has, but what one has in their heart. There is nothing wrong with being blessed, and God is the decider to what extent that is...its the fear/faith in ones heart that dictates the answer to those questions that need to be answered.
ReplyDeleteRight. I would definitely distinguish between wealth and consumer spending. It's one thing to "have" (manage) resources. It's another thing to spend it lavishly on yourself. Real estate, business ventures, investments, etc. are means of stewardship. But is buying a $60k Porsche over a $20k Honda really a wise (or just) use of finances? Some people justify lavish spending because they have to fit into their social circles or impress their clients (e.g., real estate agents). But I'm not sure this kind of thinking squares with the Bible, especially when you consider the margin of difference between, say, a reliable/durable vehicle and a luxury vehicle. That extra $20-50k could go along way toward poverty relief and development.
ReplyDelete