A Look At Wealth

Fraser River-trekearth

From the Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Browning reasons that in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) wealth was measured in terms of such physical possessions as cattle, gold and silver and that those blessed by God with such were expected to share with the poor and he lists Deuteronomy 15:10 as the example verse. Browning (1997: 392).

Deuteronomy 15:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

10 You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all [a]your undertakings.

Browning's deduction here seemingly being that for the wealthy, giving to God would be giving to the poor and not just, for example, the religious institution representing the Biblical God of the day.

Browning states this continued to be expected of the wealthy in the New Testament as in 2 Corinthians 8 and notably there is the warning of the possible injustices that the rich can inflict upon the poor in James 5. Browning (1997: 392). 

James 5:1-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of [a]Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [b]fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and [c]put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

Browning does make an important point based on Matthew 6, that too much emphasis on wealth takes a person away from what is important philosophically and theologically in life. Browning (1997: 392). The idea would be an over focus on temporal matters at the expense of spiritual matters and the Biblical God.

D.K. Adie writes that the term 'wealth' arises from the Anglo-Saxon 'weal' meaning a general state of well-being. Adie (1999: 1159). Wealth is an aspect of God's creation and is according to Adie not inherently evil and need not be refused as it can be a blessing from God. Adie (1999: 1163). The problem is that in a fallen world wealth is often used to commit many evils. Adie (1999: 1163). These are evils done by persons against each other, stronger against weaker, the wealthy against the poor, and also internal evils with the notable verse being used that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (I quote the more literal New American Standard Version here) in 1 Timothy 6: 10. Adie (1999: 1163). Persons in Christ are therefore not to be too temporal-minded in regard to material possessions but more concerned with everlasting treasures of the next realm. Adie (1999: 1163).

I am in no noted disagreement with either author. The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and New Testament emphasizes that God can bless a person, including a follower/believer in the Biblical God with wealth, but everlasting spiritual considerations of the next realm, still to follow, are more important that storing present treasures on earth.

That being stated, having been a student for much of my adult life, there are large negatives with not having a full-time income, but part-time income, while working very hard and smart, for the most part on four academic degrees. Financial problems and debt really can be spiritual burdens and theologically it is certainly reasonable to pray and act in way to be free from financial burden, which in my mind, like excessive wealth, can at times also be a problem of evil. Excessive wealth, debt, financial struggles can be problems of evil, a key from a Biblical perspective is to submit these to God.

ADIE, D.K. (1996) ‘Wealth, Christian View of’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

I have been pretty frugal in life financially but have made a few mistakes here and there, but some of these financial moves from others are questionable...

Gold Shirt-Business Insider

Indian 'Mr. T'-Business Insider

Sucka-Google Images

Alieux posted on Facebook and from the links we saw it appeared Indian Mr. T was single, but from this link on January 8 he appears married.

From Business Insider:

'Indian businessman Datta Phuge sure is bullish on gold. So bullish that he's put a third of what he's worth, $230,888, into his most recent "investment."'

'The shirt is made of 14,000 gold flowerings that have been interwoven with 100,000 spangles sewn into a base of white velvet and features six Swarvoski buttons...'

'"I know I am not the best looking man in the world," he is...," "but surely no woman could fail to be dazzled by this shirt?"'

'Sorry ladies, but he's married.

His wife, Seema Phuge, works for the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), and her employers not too thrilled about his new shirt.'

Solid Gold-8.2 Million Dollar Rolls Royce

'Hailed as the world’s most expensive Rolls Royce Phantom, this magnificent car features some 120 kg of 18K gold that has been strategically placed all across the car.'

Imagine the thoughts after an accident...

ExtraVaganzi.Com

Google Images

Quote:

'Saudi prince Waleed bin Talal get a gold made Mercedes worth $4800000 It seems unlikely that there is a car with more bling on it than this Mercedes SL, Spotted at an auto show overseas. From a distance, it almost appears that the car is coated in glitter, but it is actually covered in diamonds. I won't speculate on the value, but you can bet that this isn't a car just anyone will turn up in.'

Diamond Car