Wealth and Faith

"He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?"
declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

Is creating wealth a bad thing? No. The Bible is very clear that God has created a gorgeous world and placed human beings in it to revel in its splendour and produce an abundance of good things. Is God biased? No. The Bible explicitly declares that God has no bias either toward the rich or the poor (Deut 10:17-18).

What then is the problem? Why do Scriptures warn again and again that God sometimes work in history to destroy the rich? The Bible has a simple answer. It is because the rich sometimes get rich by oppressing the poor. Or because they have plenty and neglect the needy. In either case, God is furious.

Four biblical truths about the poor are essential if the church today is to be faithful.

1. The Bible says that the Sovereign of history works to lift up the poor and oppressed.
2. Sometimes, the Lord of history tears down rich and powerful people.
3. The Bible says that God identifies with the poor so strongly that caring for them is almost like helping God.
4. Scriptures teach that God’s faithful people share God’s special concern for the poor.

RONALD SIDER
Living Like Jesus:Eleven Essentials for Growing a Genuine Faith