Tag: money

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Rant against riches.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. ‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We come into chapter five of James letter to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, which is generally understood to be Jewish Christians who were dispersed outside of Israel. First of all, “twelve tribes?” I thought ten of them were lost. I wonder who and what was left?

James really seems to go on a rant against riches, but we need to dig a little deeper rather than just thinking James was an anti-money, anti-wealth guy. It really is a rant against injustice and abusing laborers. The poor, the working class have never had proper care nor any representation protecting them from being cheated and mistreated. This is an ancient problem that God hated! God hated it then, He hates it still today. When wealth is generated by abuse of power and at the expense of the poor, everyone suffers! This is far more than the minimum wage issues we continue to battle around the globe. It’s greed with no regard to others and God has always been against it.

In the Old Testament, God had his prophets constantly speaking out, warning the kings and religious leaders to use caution when it came to employment of the poor as well as buying and selling goods. God has always wanted the poor to have equal access to justice through the judges and condemned “fixing” the scales to favor the merchants, while at the same time giving discounts and advantages to the rich. Not only does the Law command justice, “Do not pervert justice” (Leviticus 19:15), the Law also commands mercy and care for the poor, “Make provision for the poor” (Leviticus 19:9-10) and “Help the poor among you” (Leviticus 25:35-36). Psalms and Proverbs both encourage watching out for, even protecting the poor, “Uphold the cause of the poor” (Psalm 82:3-4), “Be kind to the needy” (Proverbs 14:21). God makes sure that we understand that our care for justice towards the poor is directly connected to our attentiveness to God himself! “Oppressing the poor shows contempt for their Maker” (Proverbs 14:31) and “Kindness to the poor is like lending to God” (Proverbs 19:17).

This is why James delivers such a heated discussion to Jewish Christians, thus to all real followers of Jesus. Is James against storing up riches for just the ability to amass wealth? Of course he is! It is a waste of time and contrary to those who have the “gift of giving,” as Paul writes about (Romans 12:8 ). But it becomes even more egregious to acquire wealth by mistreating others, “For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (James‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬). Since money & wealth is worthless in heaven, Jesus (Matthew 6:19-20) and James advise us not store it up here on earth where it just decreases its value, while corroding our soul. Justice and generosity mimic and mirror the character of God.

Prayer

​Dad,
I was always neutral to negative about money when I was young. Sure, I wanted to earn money, and have money, but my heart just wasn’t into amassing or scheming to get it and keep it. I didn’t feel that I was good at “handling” money anyways, and saw it as too complicated. That all changed when I started seeing money as means to BE generous, to live generous. I would say you taught me to kind of “gamify” giving. It became a joy to figure out how to out-give you! Which, as you said, can’t be done! It was so freeing and fun. I no longer fear money, either having it or losing it. I now know it’s a wonderful tool, emulating You, in grace, mercy and love. Thank you for your generosity and favor to those who will give even as you have given? Amen.

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Shhhh – God’s working in me.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In these sets of contrarian vignettes of comparison, Jesus weighs in on the top religious behaviors of the day. Those who have, what they believe is a rich physical and spiritual life, seem to be flaunting their superiority.

It’s always a humorous expression to try to “out-god” God himself. Religious folks ought to remember, God sees all and knows all. Meaning, He sees not only the acts of “pholiness” (fake holiness), but also the heart motivations behind the scenes. No matter the grand expression, God is almost exclusively impressed with the movement of our soul.

The striking, blatant, dark comedy on the ancient streets that day was this; as the hypocrites (a theater term btw) parade their generosity with great fanfare, they do so right in front of God standing right there in the common crowd! Jesus, who would give everything, his reputation, possessions (which was minimal), and life would not be celebrated with trumpets but with a morbid mix of cheers, jeers, wailing and shrieking. Jesus good deed was indeed public, but it was not admired by others, it was despised!

Most, if not all giving of money or service or kindnesses, should be done so in secret. It’s like one hand is demonstrably waving at a friend, while the other hand is slipping some needy person a Franklin. I love Jesus’ closing remark, “and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” You see that? Is it really about a reward at all? The hired Mariachi band maybe your earthly reward when you give obviously, but what’s the heavenly reward when giving in secret? I don’t know.

Here’s what I do know. When I emulate something good I exclusively learned from my Father (God), I honor him and it’s incredibly rewarding. When I see my own adult children doing something good they learned from myself or their mother – well it’s is rapturously joyful! When I give, I am modeling my Father’s character, His will and desires. That’s plenty of reward for me because shockingly, I see that salvation and sanctification are actually working in me!

Prayer

Dad,
In so many ways, I can hardly remember the person I used to be. Sure, I see flashes of dark shadows as sin continues to try to resurrect and control me. But in so many other ways, I see the light and love of your Spirit molding a new me. In this area of generosity, it has been such a remarkable journey. It’s not super scientific, but I feel that I have proven to myself that I can’t out-give you! In so many ways beyond money, it’s been a pleasure to grow in gifts that you are so good at – grace, mercy and generosity. Thank you.

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Gehazi goes side-giggin’

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.” 2 Kings‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why not get a little something-something for my trouble? In Gehazi’s mind, his master, Elisha, was a poor money manager, negotiator and certainly lacked the common knowledge – you never say no to money! Gahazi thinks, Elisha should NOT have let this Aramean (uh, foreigner) get away. Oh, but Gahazi, who was learning about these mysterious ways that God interacted with Elisha, must have drawn the line at the whole “work man worthy of his hire,” or “don’t muzzle the oxen when it’s eating,” concepts that are very common in minister circles today.

And it was hard to figure out the pattern by just observing Elisha. Remember there was famine in the land. One time Elisha asks a widow to give him her last bit of food for herself and her son. Then another Elisha feeds hundreds of people with the gift from from Baal-shalishah. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat.” 2 Kings‬ ‭4:42‬ ‭NLT‬‬. It must have driven Gehazi a little crazy.

No matter the motive, Gehazi’s plans were sketchy from the start. He runs after Naaman’s entourage, and bold-face LIES to Naaman about Elisha changing his mind! “my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.” What? Two guys arrived SINCE the time I just left? Naaman doesn’t care about the money or the expensive clothes, he just received a new lease on life! Sure “take double that,” he says being extremely generous.

You feel the moral tension when the text says, “Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.”

The next interaction with Gehazi and Elisha is so predictable. It’s like that conversation every Father has had with their lying, scheming Junior High son! Elisha asks Gehazi, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” Now, I need to insert here that great parents all play the same game of truth or how-dare-you with their kids. Parents ask questions they already have the answer to!!! We’re just trying to let our children have one last chance to come clean and confess to something we already know about. It’s a setup and it works every time.

Gehazi replies with the most ridiculous answer, “I haven’t been anywhere.” Oh really? So this whole time you’ve been GONE, nowhere to be found, you were really here, but just what, invisible? Elisha doesn’t give him a second chance to be truthful. Apparently, Moms are the only ones with “eyes behind their head!” Prophets have that spirit-intuition that something smells nasty!

Gehazi must have turned sheet-white when Elisha dropped this question…“Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you?” I would have been sick to my stomach if I were Gehazi. Then, oddly, Elisha goes on to describe MORE than just Gehazi’s greed, he lays out the young servant’s true plans and intentions for his future. A future filled with lots of wealth and lots of influence! Gehazi didn’t just want money, he wanted MORE of everything. Elisha asked him, “Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?” The answer for prophets in training or young ministers everywhere is NO. This is NOT the time for more. Then maybe to discipline Gehazi, but possibly even to save his life, he blessed him with Naaman’s curse – incurable skin disease.

Prayer

Dad,
These are hard lessons for those who are called to be ministers, servants, evangelists or even prophets. The lesson of how to handle money and power. The lesson of how to “know” things in the Spirit and NOT let that go to one’s head. To have multiple opportunities to get ahead or secretly take or make a deal on the side and think like Gehazi’s, “I deserve this.” Or, “know one will ever know.” It gives me chills to think about how often this happens in ministry and ministers today. Help us oh God to trust and completely depend on your supply, your care for us and our families. Help us to do the right thing always!