After Pentecost Devotional - Day 32

“Jesus replied, 'If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.'” Matthew 19:21

This is one of the best-known sayings of Jesus. It is also one of the most neglected of Jesus' sayings. Just like “love your enemies,” we brush this verse aside as completely irrelevant to life in our economic system. We tell ourselves that Jesus' words were specific to this rich young ruler, and to him alone. We are excused from any need to address Jesus' words, since his situation does not apply to our circumstances. Quickly and efficiently, we back away and keep going. “Nothing to see here.”

If this were the only time that Jesus addressed issues of economics, we might have a leg to stand on. The problem is that economics are addressed in the Bible as much or more than any other theme we might name. Economic concerns were behind the fertility cults we hear so much about in the Old Testament. The Sabbath laws were about economics and trusting God to provide beyond the limits of our efforts to provide for ourselves. The laws of Jubilee, letting the land lie fallow, not cutting fruit trees, freeing slaves, forgiving debts, not charging interest, tithing, sacrifices, offerings, justice, caring for the poor, widow, immigrant, orphan, priests, and Levites were all about economics and how God wants us to relate to one another economically.

The prophets were concerned with economic justice for the poor, widows, immigrants, and otherwise dispossessed. The claimed this was the issue behind the destruction of Sodom (Ezekiel) and the impending doom of Judah and the surrounding nations (Isaiah). Micah is perhaps the most direct about economic justice, but it is a theme underlying the bulk of the Hebrew Scriptures.

It is from this backdrop that Jesus addresses his words to the rich young ruler. These are not words from a void, but a message in concert with the prophetic voice of Israel across the ages. Israel was supposed to be generous with their poor to the extent that poverty would not exist. As long as there was poverty, they were not living up to the ethic that the Law required. Yahweh's land was to flow with milk and honey, but only so long as they shared that wealth in such a manner as to eradicate poverty.

That is our context. That is the background to Jesus' words. That is what was missing in the life of this pious man intent on gaining God's blessing.

No, that does not mean that no one is allowed to have a savings account or investments for retirement. It does indicate, however, that the assessment of our economic wealth needs to take a much wider view to encompass those around us.

The bottom line for Western society has become the amassing of fortunes for personal comfort and only meager thought for anyone else. We have seen wealth destroy families over the course of generations. We have seen corporate greed punish workers and exploit populations around the globe. These words need to be heard anew. They apply.

Take a long hard look at how your economic attitudes reflect care for self versus care for others.


"Lord, grant me the grace and will to see my neighbor as a member of my own family."


—©Copyright 2016, Christopher B. Harbin
http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/ 
My latest books can be found here on amazon

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