A Christian’s Economic Relations

Deuteronomy 8:17, 18; Luke 12:13-21

GOLDEN TEXT: “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”—Luke 12:15

THOSE who are not rich toward God are poor indeed, irrespective of the extent of their material possessions. This is the important point revealed in today’s lesson. The prophet states, “The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22) Even the worldly discover that material riches alone do not guarantee a life of tranquility and joy, and how much more should Christians realize the vanity of earthly treasures; and, knowing this, refrain from devoting anxious thoughts and precious time to the accumulation of that which satisfieth not!

The relationship of natural Israel to God was quite different from that of spiritual Israel. God’s covenant with them gave assurance that if faithful they would be blessed with an abundance of material good things—“in basket and in store.” (Deut. 28:5) The productivity of their land—protection from their enemies, health and life, were all to be evidences of God’s pleasure with them and his favor toward them. They were to realize that if they were prosperous it was because of God’s favor; and if they failed to be prosperous, it was because God’s back was turned toward them.

However, even though God did bless natural Israelites along material lines whenever they were faithful to him, we cannot suppose that such blessings constituted their chief delight in knowing and serving him. To know that the smile of his countenance was upon them must surely have meant much more to every true Israelite than the mere fact of good crops or good health. Unless they accepted these material blessings as evidences of divine love their lives would still be poor and barren.

The promise, “My God shall supply all your need,” while it is addressed to Christians, was true in principle concerning natural Israel. (Phil. 4:19) Their need was different inasmuch as their relationship with God was under the terms of a different covenant. Israel’s law covenant promised earthly life and blessings, whereas the Christian’s covenant with God is based upon sacrifice. (Psalm 50:5; Matt. 16:24-26) Faithfulness under the law covenant resulted in material gain, while faithfulness under the Christian’s covenant leads to the sacrifice of earthly possessions.

The Christian sacrifices material riches in order to devote them to the service of the Lord. He also devotes to God the time necessary to acquire riches. That one cannot serve both God and Mammon successfully is a lesson every Christian should learn early in his experience as a disciple of Christ. (Matt. 6:24) When Jesus sent his disciples into the ministry he impressed upon them the importance of being wholehearted in that service, and cautioned them not to be anxiously concerned about their material needs. This lesson applies to every Christian regardless of how much time he can devote directly in the divine service. Even if nearly all of one’s time is needed to provide things honest in the sight of all men, the Christian should remember that his real vocation in life is not just “making a living,” but serving God, hence his material needs should ever be looked upon as incidental.

The parable of the man who enlarged his barns in order to store up more abundant earthly possessions does not apply to the unconsecrated and the worldly, except to point out the vanity of earthly riches. There have been thousands who have enlarged their “barns” as did the man of the parable, yet their “souls” have not been required of them—that is to say, they have not died untimely deaths, as the parable suggests.

The special application of the parable is to Christians; in which case we might properly think of the “soul” that is required as representing the new life, the “new creature.” It is, we believe, an inexorable law of the Christian life, that if one is unfaithful to his covenant of sacrifice, and devotes time and attention to increasing his wealth in order that he might live a life of ease and pleasure, his spiritual life dies. The “new creature” simply cannot coexist with the spirit of lust for earthly possessions.

Those who would be rich fall into a snare, the apostle tells us. (I Tim. 6:9) And we are also told of the seed that is choked to death through being “overcharged with the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches.” (Matt. 13:22) It behooves us all to be on guard against this selfish spirit lest it gain ascendancy in our hearts. Our economic security is in the promises of God. If we give reasonable consideration to our actual material needs, and devote our chief thought to matters spiritual, we will find our souls increasing in the riches of divine grace. We may not have the best food to eat, or the finest home in which to live; but all our spiritual needs will be abundantly supplied, and we will be laying up treasures in heaven.

QUESTIONS:

In the matter of riches, how did God deal differently with natural Israel than he does with the church of this Gospel age?

Does God specially punish the worldly because of their efforts to become wealthy?

Can a Christian devote time and attention to becoming rich in this world’s goods without loss as a new creature?

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