Wealth
Day 444, Wednesday, Oct. 29
Matthew Chapter 19 – 21:22
Chapters 19 and 20 both shed light on how Jesus approached wealth. In the two chapters we see two ways of thinking about wealth, both of which have their risks for the Christian.
In chapter 19 we have what we often call the parable of the rich young man. In it, a wealthy young man asks Jesus what he must do to get eternal life. Jesus first tells him to obey the commandments, then tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor.
This exchange ends with Jesus telling his disciples, “it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Chapter 20 begins with a parable that looks at wealth from the other end of the economic spectrum. It is the story of day laborers hired by a landowner to work in his vineyard.
Early in the morning he hires the first laborers and agrees to pay them a denarius for the day’s work.
Several times through the day he hires more laborers, each time saying he will pay them “what is right.”
At the end of the day he pays each the same amount: the ones who worked only one hour receive the same denarius that those who worked the whole day receive.
When the ones who worked longer complain that he is unfair, the landowner replies, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
Much of the strain in our own society is caused by our approaches to wealth and our different beliefs on how it should be managed. But in these parables, both the wealthy man who cannot let go of his money and the poor laborers who are jealous of the good fortune of others have problems stemming from their understanding of wealth—both in their own ways are trapped by their love of money.
Wednesday meditation
Psalms 18:30-36
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
Prayer focus
Lord, however much or little we have in the way of worldly wealth, we pray that it never get in the way of our total commitment to you.
-Rev. Mark Fleming