The book of Proverbs has several authors. The most famous is of course Solomon. But we must not forget the "Sayings of the wise", Agur and King Lemuel. I came across the following from the Sayings of the wise.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off like an eagle. Prov 23:4-5.
This proverb reminded me of a recent conversion. I had run into someone I know and we immediately started a discussion on "how things were going". This person started sharing about his financial difficulties. He had invested a large sum of money in building houses on some land. The roads and sewer have been put in and houses are under construction. Then it happened, the housing crisis hit. The banks started calling up and wanted their money. In a good economy the banks may be more friendly but now they just want their cash. Naturally this person I know stands to lose a bundle, and based upon the body language was clearly very worried.
I have known other people, mostly Christians who dive in the multilevel marketing businesses. They sell everything from vitamins to cleaning products. All these folks live in the hope of making it rich. It is there passion, love and desire. They degrade friends and family, reducing them to the level of a customer. Nothing seems to be below them. Profit is their GOD and their down line salvation.
There are even multilevel marketing business that target Christan's. Their hook is "if you make it rich think of how much you can give to missions". Sadly there are many who follow after wealth. They use the gospel and missions as means to cover up, what I believe the bible calls greed, lust and coveting.
Jesus gave us a good model to follow, "seek first the kingdom of GOD". As Christians we live with a different economic model than the world. Our model rests not in a plan, business or strategy but in a kingdom. Such thinking is hard for many to grasp, but I believe it is essential we come to understand it. Let us face some facts Communism has failed...but so has Capitalism. Just as Communism left everyone poor, Capitalism excludes the masses from access to a sustainable living. On a global scale two percent of the world's population holds eighty percent of the wealth. This has left Latin America, the pacific rim, Asia, and Africa struggling for a daily meal.
Jesus kingdom is not about hording but about caring. John the baptist said "he who has two cloaks give it to the person who has none". Wow...what a concept, what an idea, giving excess possessions away. Many parts of the world are tinder boxes ripe for revolution. People will do anything to feed their families, even side with an evil leader. Hezbollah in Lebanon gets a great deal of support from the people. Hezbollah's social services arm is very effective meeting the needs of the poor, they also run the largest hospital in Balbek. As Napoleon said "a revolution is nothing more than peoples opinions with bayonets attached". Poverty is making the world an unstable place.
The U.S government is giving a thousand dollars to each house hold in America to stimulate the economy. The idea is that we will get the 1 g and go out spending wildly on consumer goods. When politicians do such things it makes me detest them even more. Do they really think that this will fix America's woes? Of course not. So what should we be doing with the money. I would like to suggest a kingdom approach. Maybe there are those around you who need some help. Maybe there is a ministry you have wanted to give to. The poor of America are still here and with the poor I think we will find Jesus. Let us think beyond ourselves and plunge our hearts in Christ's kingdom. Now is not the time for buying more stuff. Now is the time for caring about others.
