Redistribution of Wealth
Does the Bible support “redistribution of wealth? I will admit I was amazed to find Scripture that actually supports the argument for taking wealth from one and giving it to another.
I have heard most of my life the “rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” Do YOU believe this statement? I do not believe this statement for a couple of reasons. One, it goes against God’s Word. It sounds true and one can look around and start to believe it is true except what you see and hear does not mean it is true. What God’s Word says is ABSOLUTE TRUTH!
I believe there are principles we must operate in and out of to attain God’s BEST. I am not going to list every single one in this post but I will throw out 2-3 starters.
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. (Matthew 5:45)
This verse tells us God operates off principle, not feelings, emotions, or moods. He is just and true all the time. He is good to the godly, ungodly, wealthy, poor, kind, and the unkind. Therefore, for life to go well with me I need to learn His principles.
But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. (Deuteronomy 8:18)
All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19)
Work is absolutely essential to producing an abundant harvest. Scripture tells us laziness, procrastination, and poor work ethic will cause poverty to overtake us. WORK is one of God’s 4-letter words.
Lets get back to Redistribution of Wealth. Where does this term originate from? You can find “redistribution of wealth” in capitalism, socialism, and communism. Some methods of distribution are through nationalization, taxation, and welfare.
Stay with me - We have observed all three systems of government in operation and are still in operation today. Russia was communist and it totally collapsed, Germany was socialist and collapsed. China, Vietnam, and Cuba are communist/socialist nations.
North Korea has removed references to Marxism-Leninism from its constitution and officially describes itself as following the ideology of Juche. Vietnam is “in transition toward socialism in the light of Marxism-Leninism” and Cuba is “a socialist state guided by ideas of Marx, Engels and Lenin and in transition to a communist society.” China calls its system socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Time nor space will allow me to go through the list of countries past and present that are or were communist/socialist. The point of this post is they have either failed/collapsed or they are in authoritarian rule. So why do we as Americans, why do we as the church want any of these traits?
The term “wealth redistribution”, equated to socialism by some, could be defined as taking money from the rich and giving it to the middle class or poor. Whether you agree with this definition of wealth redistribution or the use of the term itself, Jesus Himself supports it, but in reverse.
For those who are good stewards or managers of the financial resources God has given them, wealth redistribution is a very exciting thing. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-28), Jesus speaks of three servants whose master gave them money to manage while he went on a journey. Two of the servants made their money grow while the master was away, but the third servant did not. The master returned and, after seeing that the third servant did not manage his money in a way as to receive increase, commanded that the money be taken from him and given to one of the other servants. Verse 28, 29 – “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
The servant who initially received the ten talents became the recipient of reverse wealth redistribution. The money was taken from the one who had less and given to the one who had more. Just the opposite of the wealth redistribution we hear about in the news. This was not an injustice, but rather an example of rewards and consequences of individual behavior. Take personal responsibility for your finances, make wise money management decisions, and more money will come your way.
Money naturally flows from those who do not manage it to those who do.” (Dave Ramsey)
Remember what I have always taught. Whatever the masses, majority, mainstream, and popular opinion wants to do will be 99% of the time totally contrary to God’s Word. It is two Kingdoms with opposite principles. Jesus promoted “redistribution of wealth” by taking from the poor and giving to the rich. WOW… that will totally Jack Your Theology Up!
Apart from illegal activities people who have wealth have strong work ethics and business ideas. Successful people work 60-100 hours a week. If you take money from those who earned it and give it to individuals who are ignorant in handling finances (budgeting, investing, saving, balancing) you end up with Biblical Social Injustice!
How do you get in the “rich get richer” crowd?
1. Utilize a spending plan (financial budget). This is the best way to show God that you have a plan for managing the resources he entrusts to you. Without one, your money will disappear quickly, and you’ll constantly be controlled by a “lack of money.” Financial pressure will become a way of life.
2. Cut out unnecessary spending. Creating a budget will shine a spotlight on areas where you have been spending more than you realized. Often times, the problem is not too little income; it’s too much lifestyle. You may not be able to increase your income right away, but you can immediately take action by cutting expenses. You may have to stop buying fast food, downgrade to a less expensive car, and stay away from clearance sales, but God will honor and bless your diligence and commitment in controlling what is within your control.
3. Begin tithing immediately. The first 10% of all your increase is God’s. It is to be given to your local church. God promises financial blessings to those who do this, but many chose to disobey God’s directive in this area. As a result, they are not the recipient of the blessings that He promises. (Key scriptures regarding tithing are Leviticus, 27:30-32, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 23:23, and Proverbs 3:9) Failing to tithe nullifies the benefits of doing numbers 1 and 2 above. Despite your best efforts, it puts you in the “poor gets poorer” crowd because God cannot bless your disobedience. If you wait until you can afford to tithe, you never will. Begin immediately and God will begin to bless you for it.
If you want to receive financial increase, become like the first two servants – properly manage the resources you have already been given. Performing the three steps above will lay a good foundation for your financial success and get you on the receiving end of biblical wealth redistribution.
