Wealth and Religion

For many seasons of my life, I supported a conservative agenda. While proclaiming to be a man of faith and conservative values, my actions were everything but those of a true conservative. I let others explain the contents of the bible instead of guiding myself through the good book. Instead of saving money, it was spent foolishly on pleasures. I failed to give my family the time and support they needed.

I believed in hard work and "trickle-down economics". The myth that if you work hard, you would succeed. Growing up with a low-income, marrying, and having a family with a low-income, my wife and I took pride in our success.

A decade ago, I began to question my belief about financial wealth. My financial situation had improved dramatically within a short period. I realized that financial wealth can provide amenities, pleasures, and a sense of security. Does financial wealth provide happiness though?

Fast-forward to four years ago when this country decides to elect a man who dubiously claims to be financially successful. Many right-leaning and Christian family and friends are endorsing this man and his agenda. A nationalistic agenda, policies that are unabashedly in favor of the wealthy, and rhetoric that is contrary to the Christian character.

Revisiting the same questions about financial wealth and happiness from a decade ago, new questions began to emerge. Article after article began detailing how the pandemic of 2020 has deepened the financial abyss between the wealthy and the poor. We are approaching one year of fear and uncertainty for so many, yet many Christians are still supporting policies that protect the fortunes of the wealthy. Fortunes magnified by a pandemic that is eating away at the savings and income of so many average Americans.

So why as Christians should we be willing to give favor to the rich? Better question... what does the bible tell us in regard to those who are wealthy?

This is one of my favorites. I mentally picture a silly cartoon depicting this act.

Don't Be Hatin'

Reading the above, you might believe being rich is evil. That is not my understanding reading the many Bible verses regarding the wealthy. What I take from these verses is the struggle. The struggle to prioritize faith above wealth. The struggle to not covet money and be able to part with excess wealth.

Luke 18:25 is one of my favorites. Before that verse, Jesus is talking to a ruler who wants to know how he can inherit eternal life. The ruler claims that he has kept all the commandments since he was a young boy. Jesus hears this and says to him "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

I always imagine the silence and cycle of expressions on this ruler's face. Shock. Fear. Sadness. The bible says "he became very sad because he was very wealthy".

After this, Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Christians and Taxes

The Gospel of Mark shares the words of Jesus as he was being tested by the Pharisees. They were questioning him about paying the imperial tax to Caesar. Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's".

You will find several examples of how protestant reformers would argue that a virtuous government helps the poor drawing on Psalm 72.

Paul the Apostle wrote to the Romans how to handle their relationship between God and the civil government.

Conclusion

Giving favor to the rich is not something the Bible teaches us. Policies that favor the wealthy and privileged provide no benefits to others. Government has to tax fairly, and Christians must "Give back to government what is the government's and to God what is God's".