Some startling statistics caught my attention the other day from Oxfam- an international aid confederacy with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, whose focus is alleviation of global poverty.
Murray Smith
This British-founded agency reveals how poor most of the world is and how disproportionately the world’s wealth is distributed across earth’s population of about eight billion people. 1.1 per cent of the world’s population holds more wealth than 6.9 billion people combined. That 1.1 per cent controls 45.8 per cent of total global wealth.
The wealth and property held by relatively few multi-millionaires and billionaires around the world is mind blowing. No judgement here at all, because some super rich could possibly be super generous too. You might say, “Well they can afford to be” And you would be right, though all of us, regardless of means, should practice generosity of heart. I’ve experienced incredible hospitality and generosity in poor communities proving ‘giving’ is contingent on the ‘heart,’ not in abundant wealth. Since owning a car places you in the world’s top five per cent of wealth owners, by world standards we are very wealthy – and with that comes responsibility. ‘Giving’ frees us from the entanglement that possessions can exert over us.
An entrapping, addiction sits behind pursuing riches. The allure of wealth can subtly consume our affections. The Bible frequently warns of the corrupting, seductive power that ‘stuff’ has to become your master. One warning is, “If riches increase do not set your heart upon them.” Another warning states, “The love of money is the root of all evil”. This is often misquoted as ‘money is the root of all evil.’ Money itself is not the root of evil – but ‘loving’ it is. Even people who aren’t wealthy, can ‘love’ money, making it their life-goal to get more.
Jesus taught using stories like this… “A rich man had land which bore good crops. He began to think to himself, ‘I don’t have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? This is what I will do,’ he told himself; ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. Then I will say to myself, lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?’”
Jesus concluded, “This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God’s sight.” (Lukes Gospel, Chapter 12)
Jesus clearly isn’t against people investing wisely since He commends those who work hard, earning a return on what they have. He’s addressing the motivation for seeking to increase material wealth. Is it all about self-centred gratification? Or are we incorporating a broader motivation of caring concern for other’s needs – for those disadvantaged in life? That’s what being ‘rich in God’s sight’ means.
Enslavement to the ‘visible’ makes faith in the ‘invisible’ suspect. Don’t become blind to eternal realities – to substitute serving God for serving the ‘god’ of materialism, will do that.
Flat Lay of the Holy Bible and Items on the Desk. Photo: Chris Liu, pexels.com
