“JESUS – RADICAL FOR OUR TIME”

“Jesus – The Nature of True Wealth” – Part II

In his book, Wealth and Poverty, George Gilder says, “The only stable asset among the quakes and shadows is a disciplined brain. Matter melts, but mind and will can flash for a while ahead of the uncertain crowd, beam visions across the sky, and induce their incarnation in silicon and cement before the competition gathers. The best, most compelling most original and flexible minds constitute the most enduring gold.”

Gilder goes on to add that “As soon as the works of imagination and mathematics become concrete – are invested – they are trapped. This is why the vast majority of America’s fortunes are dissipated within two generations.”

Albert Nolan in his book, Jesus Before Christianity, says “Jesus did not idealize poverty. On the contrary his concern was to ensure that no one should be in want, and it was to this end that he fought possessiveness and encouraged people to be unconcerned about wealth and to share their material possessions.” His motive was compassion for the poor, says Dr. Nolan.

But if people are unconcerned about wealth and making money, will they not fall behind the others, lose their competitive edge and eventually have little money to share? Does not Jesus introduce an attitude that leads to lack of incentive, lack of initiative and then to lack of productivity? What do you think? Why?

Jesus advised the rich young ruler that if he wanted to enter the Kingdom he should sell everything he had and come follow Jesus. But Jesus also had other wealthy followers such as the well-to-do women mentioned in Luke 8: 1-3 who supported his work financially, as well as well-to-do followers such as Joseph of Arimathea, Zacchaeus, possibly Nicodemus and others. They were not asked, as was the rich young ruler, to sell all they had and give to the poor.

Why the difference? Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven. Why then would he not advise all to become “poor” so as to enter the Kingdom? What might Jesus advise American Christians today with respect to their wealth? What do you think? Why?