Attitudes to Wealth – RS Coursework
a) The Bible teaches that wealth is a servant and not a master. Jesus, Paul and the Prophets all seem to agree with this. Matthew says that you should not buy possessions for yourself that could be destroyed or stolen, but gain treasures in heaven, which couldn’t be destroyed or taken “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I think that Jesus thought that the wealthy people should give generously give to the poor, often he has complaints that were selfish and the person often though more of material possession than spiritual value. An example of someone like this called out from the crowd to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Jesus then told them a parable. It was about a man who had more money than sense. He had no where to store his crops so he pulled down his barns and built bigger ones, and there he stored all his corn and thought to himself that he wouldn’t be short of corn in the next couple of years so he was going to take life easy and eat, drink and be merry. Then God tells him he is a fool, which was a very harsh word to use then, God then took his life and proclaimed“ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores things up for himself but is not rich towards God”” God did this to show the people that they shouldn’t be selfish and not always think of themselves but also of others and of God. Money was also used to make Judas Iscariot tell the Romans where Jesus was and helped the find him. This was because Judas put money before his religion his friends. Jesus died for Judas’ sins. In Corinthians 9 it tells us, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” If you are generous with your harvest and give to those who have no crop then God will thank you. If you give little you will receive little and vice versa. Acts also agrees with this and tells about people who sell their possessions to give money to people who need it more. There was an early form of communism in the Bible in Acts 4 because they believed that no one had possessions that were their own but instead they shared everything. This gave the poor a chance to get on their feet and start making good money and in the end overall it will benefit everyone. Jesus taught us that "It is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle". Which means that just because you have the money doesn’t mean you are a good persona and qualify to get into heaven. In Malachi 3 The Lord Almighty says we are robbing him when we don’t pay him tithes and offerings, when the tithe is bought into the storeroom then he will open the gates and pour blessing onto their land and crops. They will grow big and strong and prosper, no pests will devour your crops and the fruit from your vines will not fall. Then the Lord almighty said, "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land." This concurs with Corinthians 9 "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." You give to God, God gives to you. I conclude that money should be used to help others rather than helping yourself, and if you help others then God will help you.
