The Use and Abuse of Wealth

PROVERBS 11:24-27; 16:8; ECCLESIASTES 5:10, 11; JAMES 5:1-6

GOLDEN TEXT: “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.”—Proverbs 16:8

SINCE the condemnation of death passed upon the human race because of sin and there was imposed upon man the necessity of eating bread by the sweat of his face, self-interest has been a strong influence in determining the attitude of men and women toward one another. In fact, selfishness has been the mainspring motivating nearly all human activity. The struggle for existence leads the majority to look after self first, even though this may oftentimes impose hardships upon others.

There is no remedy for human selfishness except that which God has provided through the agencies of the kingdom of Christ. Under the administration of that kingdom man will be given a new heart—a heart of flesh—and will be taught to love his neighbor as himself. Then, and not before, there will be a genuine community of interest on the part of all. Communism has been tried at various times in the past, and under different circumstances, but these experiments have failed. In the days of the apostles the followers of the Master endeavored to have “all things in common,” but even among these it was not successful.—Acts 2:44; 4:32

The capitalistic system of economics seems to have been the most satisfactory for the fallen human race, but this, too, has imposed severe hardships upon some, while others have debauched themselves through the misuse of ill-gotten wealth. It is in a world largely controlled by the competitive system of capitalism that the Christian must live, and while living in such a world, adjust himself to its circumstances without compromising his standing with the Lord, and without permitting selfishness to dictate his course in life and his attitude toward others.

This is not an easy task, but the Scriptures give us the proper viewpoint to maintain, and if we believe in and act upon the principles the Bible sets forth for the guidance of Christians, it will be possible to be in the world, yet not of it in the sense of being partakers of its selfish viewpoints and practices. The first passage in today’s lesson is a good example of the better way that the Lord points out to his people.

“There is that [which] scattereth, yet increaseth,” writes the wise man, and “there is that [which] withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” To scatter one’s possessions for the benefit of others would seem to be about the surest way of becoming poverty-stricken ourselves, but this is not necessarily so. Nor does it follow that a Christian who refrains from sacrificing material things in the service of others will thereby considerably increase his holdings. What the Lord would have us learn is the way of love; that is, his viewpoint, which is that of giving, rather than getting. To have this viewpoint means that even in the acquiring of earthly possessions our chief concern should be how we should use those possessions for the Lord and for the blessing of others.

The instructions of the Bible are written for the guidance of Christians, and these have made a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice. Their viewpoint in life should be that expressed by Jesus to the rich young ruler when he told him that he should sell all that he had and give to the poor. The young man to whom Jesus spoke these words was not able to take such a course. He had great possessions. With those possessions there doubtless went a certain prestige and a degree of satisfaction that he was a little above his fellows and could exercise a certain amount of authority over them because of his wealth. All of this was too much to give up.

Jesus said to this young man that if he did give up all that he had and became one of his sacrificing followers, he would have treasure in heaven. This is where the real increase of riches takes place for those who scatter their wealth and their strength in God’s service.

The Apostle James describes the attitude of the ultra-selfish, those who have wantonly “heaped treasure together for the last days.” Now that we are living in those “last days” we can begin to realize how little value the heaped-up assets of the rich will be. The rising tide of socialism and communism, while destined to failure because of human greed and selfishness is, nevertheless, first of all rapidly dissipating the accumulated treasures of the rich. The truly consecrated can look upon these developments, see in them the fulfillment of prophecy, and at the same time be glad that their treasures are secure where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where they are not endangered by the deterioration of a world order.

QUESTIONS:

Is it possible for communism to work under existing conditions?

Is it possible for Christians to live in a selfish world without being selfish?

How does a Christian’s wealth increase as he gives up his all in the service of the Lord?

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