THE ECONOMICS OF CHRIST 4

I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.  As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack" (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).

The wealth of a nation, more than any other factor, is the character of its people. 

The attitudes and values of a person or nation are more indicative of personal or national success than any other factor.  When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, his purpose was the collection of a free-will offering to aid the extremely impoverished Christian brothers and sisters in Jerusalem--he was not advocating taxation to fund a government program.  But Paul was engaged in character building when he said that there must be an economic balance in the kingdom of God.  He told the Corinthians to remember the example of Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, became poor so that by his poverty they could become rich (8:8-9).  Having the character of Christ is true wealth.

  As servant/slaves of Christ, all of the income or wealth we create belongs to the master.  He is the one who has ownership of it, but, His servants have stewardship of it, using it according to the Master's will.  Is it the Master's will to economically support those who are in legitimate need?  Yes.  Is it the Master's will to provide economic support to those who think they are entitled to it whether they work or not?  No.  The Old Testament reference to which 2 Corinthians 8:15 refers is Exodus 16:18.  It is about gathering manna, the food God sent the Israelites from heaven.  Some were physically able to gather more than others, but to each it was just enough.  Though it was free food, it still had to be gathered, and each who gathered had enough.  Though the manna from heaven was a gracious gift, it still had to be gathered.

In the economy of Christ there is balance.  Christians have a responsibility to each other.  The Old Testament shows us that there is economic balance under the Law.  How much more so should there be balance in the New Covenant economy.  In my view, the church must be more involved in the lives of its people, developing Christian structures for health care and financial management because the old structures are breaking down. 

The true wealth of a nation is the character of its people who freely serve from their hearts, not because of any kind of compulsion other than the love of Christ.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom