Why Should Christians Care About Economics?
Friday, July 31, 2009 at 4:40PM MAD21 By Jason, M.Ed.. M.A.R., Headmaster
Christians and Economics
A woman operates a small coffee stand in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of a big city in Bolivia. She sells coffee and earns a regular income to feed and clothe her children and build a decent home for her family. She opened her coffee stand thanks to a $500 loan, a loan which she easily and quickly repaid because it was small and she used it to secure a dependable income. This is the world of microfinance, a movement transforming lives in the developing world.
In a middle class suburb in America, a man charges dinner out with his family. He then goes shopping and buys a new suit for himself, putting another few hundred dollars on his Visa. Soon, he has taken on more personal debt in an evening than the coffee-stand entrepreneur in Bolivia. Yet his debt was not incurred in the pursuit of income to help his family. His was spent on convenience, pleasure and fashion.
To many Christians, talk of microfinance loans and credit card debt is boring and seemingly irrelevant. Some even object more deeply to talk of economics, saying that Christians should have nothing to do with “filthy money” and mere material things. But as our country struggles through a deep, painful recession and as we watch consumers, bankers and government agencies make recklessly irresponsible financial decisions, we all need to realize the importance of economic matters in God’s eyes and people’s lives.
“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” wrote the Apostle Paul to Timothy. Few verse have been more misquoted (usually leaving out “the love of”) or misunderstood (interpreted to mean than good Christians should not care at all about money). Yet in this world, money indeed matters, on many levels.
On one level, money matters because work matters. Work matters to God because we are made in His image. God created the world and then put us in charge of taking care of it, even of developing and improving it. This requires work – whether it’s tilling the ground, as Adam first did, or designing state-of-the-art skyscrapers. Work is essential to fulfilling our God-designed purpose, and the best work is work that produces something or makes a difference in the world. Financial schemes to get rich so that you can stop working (like ponzi schemes) are not only foolish but also contrary to God’s design of and purpose for humanity.
On another level, money matters because money is crucial to freedom. God hates slavery, the subjugation of one person to the will of another. We are all made equal in the image of God, and while we are called to serve and bless one another, slavery is an offense to God’s image in man. Today, literal chattel slavery is illegal all over the world, yet still millions of people live in slavery. Some are drug addicted drug dealers, trapped in a world of violence and despair. Some are sexual prisoners, sold into prostitution often by desperate family members. All such slavery is driven by sinful economics- someone is profiting – and breaks the heart of God.
Ultimately, though, money matters because it is a reflection of our hearts. When we spend more than we earn, we show that we are not content to live with what God has given us. What we spend our money on shows not only what we value but often what we believe will bring us happiness. This is deeply convicting, as I realize how much I value food and seek happiness through my stomach! So even though I am not a slave in the usual sense, I serve my appetites more than I’d like to admit.
So if we care about God’s image in others, if we care about our own hearts before God, we will pay more attention to economic matters. Whether it’s the financial collapse of the housing market or the liberation of a slum-enslaved family into economic freedom and meaningful work, economics matter to God and should matter to us, too.
Reader Comments (1)
Great article, Jason!