I must admit, I am something of an idealist. My picture of an ideal world is one in which everybody works hard, makes enough money, and no one goes hungry. Wealth disparity saddens me; not because I despise the rich or think that they are bad for having made money, but because of the seeming unfairness of it all.
I also must admit that I don’t have a firm grasp on economics, macro or micro. It seems to me like unrestricted capitalism will only lead to those with power taking advantage of those who don’t have it, and that “Trickle Down” economics is just a way to hope that the wealthy are generous enough to share profits with the poor (a hope which seems to ignore the human propensity for greed). But, again, I’m not well versed enough in economics to know what alternative is going to work better (I’ve been told that socialist models simply put that power in the hands of government elites instead of wealthy elites, with a similar, or worse, result).
So, if you think that anything that follows is intended to be about a practical system that will create a functional society – it isn’t. What I can speak to, is the Bible. And there are some attitudes about wealth and personal belongings that often go with a capitalist mentality that just don’t gel with how the Bible talks about our stuff.
No working, no eating
So, we can start off with this verse from 2 Thessalonians. In that letter, Paul says that “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). I often hear this applied to welfare recipients (usually from people who have never taken any time to get to know a welfare recipient). I get it. No one should get paid without working.
Let’s leave that red herring off the table. At no point am I suggesting that people should get something for nothing.
Privilege
What I think is important is to understand how the Bible sees privilege and entitlement.
Privilege doesn’t have to be a pejorative. When paired with ignorance, privilege can be a serious problem. But the word could simply be defined as a benefit that you received without your effort. It could be anything from the school district you got to attend to the sex you were born with. Sometimes people have advantages that they didn’t earn.
It is a gift that I was born to a family with two parents involved in my life (not everyone gets that). That I grew up in a country with modern medicine (not everyone gets that). My parents, grandparents, and extended family carry with them a legacy of faith that was passed down to me (also not guaranteed). I consider these privileges.
I am also a white male, meaning no one took my interest in math or theology as odd or out of place, nor does my assertiveness generally get mistaken as bossyness (although it most assuredly sometimes is).
Recognizing privilege is important. It doesn’t have to diminish the work you put in, but it can lead to both gratitude and generosity.
Privilege and Scripture
The Bible has an entire class of people that at were born into privilege: the Israelites. They were given the law, and were chosen, for no particular virtue of their own, to be God’s people.
The thing that is radical about Scripture is what the Bible says about the responsibility of privilege.
First off, it is important to understand that the Bible expects us to recognize our privilege. “Every good thing comes from God”, James tells us, and when David dedicates the temple he speaks thus of his offering to God: “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” The Bible expects you to look at everything that you have as an unmerited gift.
When I hear people talk about having earned or established their estate on their own, they are on treacherous biblical ground. You have what you have through your efforts, sure, but you have what you have because God gave it to you. Plenty of people worked just as hard as you did and ended up with less. Never forget that.
Privilege and Generosity
Once you recognize the source of your stuff, the appropraite response is generosity. Abraham’s offspring were chosen for a particular purpose: to bless the world. (Genesis 12:2-3) Those who sit back to enjoy their gifts hear “Fool, this night, your soul is required of you” (Luke 12:20).
Whenever I hear someone talk about having worked hard to get in their place in life, or that others should work just as hard so they can support themselves, I don’t hear any hint of the Biblical witness to privilege. We have what we have as a gift from God, for the expressed purpose of blessing others.
There is no room in the Bible for ignoring the poor. The Old Testament demands that you leave part of your crop, part of your earnings, for the poor and the immigrant (Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19). Jesus tells his listeners to give to the one who asks, without any real qualification on the merit of the request (Matthew 5:42; Luke 6:30). The law also commands the people of Israel to forgive debts every 7 years (Deuteronomy 15:1), and to revert ancestral lands to original owners every 50 years (Leviticus 25:10). The prophets talk endlessly about taking care of the oppressed and paying fair wages (not competitive wages).
What are we left with? I think a good look at Scripture leaves us with an ethic that demands a pretty extravagant picture of generosity – perhaps even a reckless one. Jesus does tell one story (recorded in Luke 12) of a man who had a really good harvest and set up himself for a good life to enjoy the excess benefits of his fields. He builds a bigger barn, sits back to enjoy the rest of his life in financial security. Instead, God calls him a fool and he dies. “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Jesus says, and then finished up the chapter by saying “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”
I’ll let you figure out how you think this ought to play out in your own life, or in your politics. But it had better be with an understanding that you have what you have for the purpose of giving it away to others.
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