Poverty, Wealth, Greed & Occupy Wall Street Protests

Rarely do I share concerning politics but this message will out of necessity seem political even though my goal is to simply share that which the Bible has to say.

Over the last several weeks protests across the United States and many other countries have been held in what has been called the “Occupy” movement. Men, women and students have gathered to demonstrate their disapproval and dissatisfaction with “corporate greed” and are rallying for “reform” and “equality”.

How can any follower of Christ not want an end to come to corruption and greed? There is no way to skirt the issue; many corporations and governments operate with a degree of corruption and greed. Corporations and governments are not evil, greedy or corrupt. The people who lead and comprise these entities are those who make the decisions that are corrupt.

The answer to the problems that plague our culture is found in a familiar statement, “the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.” We cannot expect men and women who have not been changed by the Holy Spirit through the power of redemption to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in all they do.

I am writing this message because the so-called “capitalists” nations of the west are beginning to flirt more and more with socialist and even Marxist ideals and many of those who are doing so are “Christians”.

The concepts of redistributed wealth and financial equality mandated through legislative reform are some of the greatest disasters of the 20^th Century. The youth of the 21^st Century seem to be ready to embrace these concepts as a wave of peaceful demonstrations and protests move through our cities and nations. This is a season in our nations that must be navigated extremely carefully.

The economy has been challenging for many people over the last several years. This has left millions with a lower standard of living, causing them to feel frustrated, despondent and angry over their personal financial forecast. The central complaint of protesters seems to be centered on the wealth of the top 1% of earners in the world. The top 1% of the American population controls about 40% of the total wealth of the nation and the top 20% of workers earn about 80% of the household income in the United States.

It is a mathematical probability that you are in the bottom 80% of income earners in the United States. You and I will have to work hard, earn a living, plan for retirement and believe that God will honor His covenant with us.

Protest those things that your heart convicts you is sin but above all things obey the Word of God. What does the Bible have to say concerning our work, our income and our financial prospects on life?

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 NLT)

As followers of Jesus Christ all those who able to work are to do so; earning a living so that they can provide for themselves, their families, the work of the ministry and those who are in need. Christians should be working, making a positive impact in society, leading the way in all areas of life. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. All that we do is a reflection of Jesus Christ.

We are the servants who when given 5 pounds work to double our Master’s deposit so that we may return to Him 10 pounds (Luke 19:11-27).

We are the followers of Christ who believe Deuteronomy 8:18, “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

We are not working to produce wealth to heap treasures and luxuries upon ourselves. We work to produce wealth so that we may see the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached throughout the world. We work to produce wealth so that the hungry may be fed, so that orphans may be cared for and so that the needs of the helpless and hopeless may be met.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15 NLT)

 

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27 NKJV)

It is never a popular message but it is true to say that faith comes by hearing and money comes by working. We will all earn at different levels because we perform different functions and solve different problems. Mike Murdock says, “The size of your paycheck is determined by the size of the problems you solve.” I earn more money than some people because the work that I do is of greater value and solves greater problems. I earn less money than many other people because the work that they do is of greater value and solves greater problems.

As followers of Christ we cannot let jealousy, envy, covetousness and greed overtake our hearts because we do not earn the salary of a Fortune 500 Chief Executive Officer. This also does not mean we need condone unethical or immoral practices committed in the name of profit. The Apostle Paul gives this advice:

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT)

John Avanzini said, “Money is neither good nor evil, it merely takes on the personality of the one who possesses it.” Money is a tool in our hands, earned by our labor, to accomplish good things in and through our lives.

There is great frustration in the world over the oppression of the poor and the greed of the wealthy. People have constantly argued and fought over money and they will continue to do so. As followers of Christ we must have a biblical worldview; our perspective on money and wealth must come from heaven.

Here is the promise of Jesus Christ:

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:38 NLT)

God desires that we become a redistribution center for His kingdom. He wants to develop our lives into a continuous spring of abundance from which he can feed hungry people, clothe naked people, visit prisoners, mend broken hearts and send His great salvation message to every corner of the earth.

So… If you are frustrated with Wall Street and failed government policies I understand. However, I wrote this message to remind you that as a follower of Christ you belong to a different Kingdom and in this Kingdom we work to glorify Jesus Christ and not ourselves.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17 NLT)

Are you successful?

Success is consistently defined for us.  We are bombarded with images of wealth, power and fame that tantalize the mind and can cause the imagination to run wild.  We consistently are sold and purchase a bill of goods that we can be famous, we can be wealthy or we can be beautiful and if we win really big we can be all three.

This is the world’s message and it is expected. 

Does the Bible or God have as problem with you being famous, wealthy or beautiful?  Not at all; He is the one who made you. Where we run into problems in the Christian church is when we begin to evaluate our lives according to the standards of what the world labels “success”. 

• Wealth is equated to success yet divorce and depression plague the wealthy, the middle class and the poor.
• Fame is equated to success yet we constantly hear of the personal struggles the “famous” go through and many of them seem to be self inflicted.
• Beauty is equated to success, billions of dollars are spent each year in its pursuit (by women and men) yet we all age and will eventually die.

 

This modern mentality has caused dreams and success to be equated with the possessions we own rather than the relationships and accomplishments of our lives.  There is a fine line between success and wealth.  Many who are successful are wealthy, but being wealthy does not always mean you are successful.

Here are some “successful” people who do not profess to be Christians:

• J.K. Rowling’s net worth is estimated at $1 billion
• Oprah Winfrey’s net worth is estimated at $1.5 billion
• Sir Elton John’s net worth is estimated at $500 million
• Deepak Chopra’s net worth is estimated at $22 million
• Ellen Degeneres’ net worth is estimated at $65 million
• Will Ferrell’s net worth is estimated at $31 million
• Hugh Hefner’s net worth is estimated at $43 million
• Marshall Mathers’ net worth is estimated at $100 million

 

Each of these people are famous; they have entertained millions and millions and have been rewarded financially for doing so.  Some profess a type of spirituality and some do not; none that I know of are Christians.  Should their wealth or success be despised by Christians?  No.  Their lives should be valued by Christians as people whom God loves and Christ died for.  Worldly success must always be contemplated in the light of this verse:

What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul?  (Matthew 16:26)

 

My goal in writing this is to direct your focus back to the things that God places value on.

The Bible has many examples of the wealthy, the poor, the successful and the unsuccessful.  Their lives can be an example to us.  Their pursuits should speak to us.  Our mind needs to be renewed with God’s idea of success.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had (Philippians 2:5)

 

Abraham

Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. (Genesis 13:2)

 

“I am Abraham’s servant,” he explained. “And the Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The Lord has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys. (Genesis 24:34-35)

 

Wealth and riches were a part of Abraham’s life, but he is remembered as the father of faith.  We read about him today and preach about him today because of his relationship with God.  We don’t remember him because of his wealth.

Abraham’s greatest success was his faith in God.  He showed remarkable faithfulness and obedience to the Lord.  He waited decades for the promise of God to be fulfilled, yet remained faithful the entire time.

Job

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. (Job 1:1-3)

 

We don’t really remember Job for his wealth either.  We remember him for the suffering he went through.  We remember the things He lost (his children, his home and his wealth). We remember his success – his faith.  He said things like:

He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. (Job 1:21-22)

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (Job 19:25-27)

Job never changes his mind about God or never doubted God’s love for him.  His life completely fell apart.  He went from wealthy to destitute yet remained unchanged in his faith.  He was tested and tried and found to be genuine.  The end of the story is awesome:

So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.  He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters.  He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.  In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.  Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren.  Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life. (Job 42:12-17)

We could speak of Solomon – extremely wealthy, extremely wise and devastatingly unfaithful to God.

We could speak of Samson – extremely famous, extremely strong and yet he suffered greatly when he sacrificed his faith for pleasure.

We could speak of Zacchaeus – wealthy but unloved by society yet he became a great disciple of the Lord Jesus.

We could speak of Daniel – powerful, wealthy and wise and used by God to declare the fate of kingdoms

We could speak of Paul – educated, influential and given some of the greatest revelation by God ever  – yet he spent years in prison and was eventually executed for his faith

We could speak of Nicodemus – a politically connected and influential in his nation yet a devout follower of Jesus Christ

We could speak of Joseph – a favored son who was sold into slavery by his brothers only to rise to become a great leader who saved millions of lives

 

Success.  Failure.  These are relative terms.

Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. (Psalm 37:1-5)

 

 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today”. (Matthew 6:24-34)

 

The way I read it, our earthly possession, our needs and even our desires are all important to God; but more important to Him is our faithful obedience to His word, our worship and our love.  God wants to be the most import thing in our lives.  He wants our focus to be on Him.  He promises throughout scripture to give us the things we need and even want if we will simply make Him #1 in our lives.

So, as a Christian, how do you measure success and how do you measure failure?

• It is not our possessions or lack of possessions
• It is not our status or lack of status
• It is not our beauty or our fame
• It is in our love and in our fruit

 

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”  (Matthew 22:37-40)

• Some of us have a great job, some of us have an OK job and some of us are unemployed – yet each of us has a function to fulfill in the Kingdom of God.
• Some of us are attractive, some of us are pretty normal and some of us help attractive people look even better – yet each us is to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
• Some of us live in a house, some of us live in an apartment and some of us seem to be always looking for a new place to live – yet each of our real homes is in heaven.

Change your mind about success.  Pursue God, clean living and sharing the gospel and you will find that your life will be successful.  You will find that if you take care of the things that belong to God that He will take care of the things that belong to you.

You will find that the more time you spend with God and working with and for Him the more your desires become His desires and His desires become your desires. 

Let’s conclude:

• If you are wealthy  – awesome – give thanks to God and use your wealth in a righteous way
• If you are not wealthy – big deal – give thanks to God for what you have.  Work hard, serve the Lord and love people.
• Success will be measured in our fruit – the lives we leave changed for God’s kingdom.
• Success will be measured by our faith – will we hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant”?
• Do not evaluate your life based on Forbes, People, Cosmopolitan, Maxim or even Charisma magazines’ definitions of success.  Evaluate your life on God’s definition of success found in the scriptures.

You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. (1 Corinthians 12:27)