WALDROP: Another economic lesson survives a challenge

Human nature would weaken Jesus’ teachings about money; understandably so, considering their severity. The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. chapters 5-7) and the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49) are radical for other teachings as well, but warnings against financial excess are highlighted there, too. Moreover, his economic parables make it clear where God stands regarding poverty and wealth (Matt. 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-31; Luke 12:16-21; Matt. 20:1-16, etc.).

Jesus instructed the “rich young ruler”: “Sell all you have and give the money to the poor and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me” (Luke 18:22 TEV). One popular loophole claims that Jesus was talking to the only individual who ever had this problem; thus, it doesn’t apply today. This is wrong for two reasons.

First, Jesus often used singular terms to teach universal lessons. For example, he asked his disciples: “Who is the faithful and wise servant?” (Luke 12:42; Matt. 24:45). Are we to suppose that there was one mysterious “faithful and wise servant” in hiding somewhere and that they were to track him down and expose him? Hardly. They were to become wise and faithful servants themselves.

Secondly, this rationalization ignores Jesus’ telling all of the disciples (his “little flock”): “Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor” (Luke 12:32-33 TEV).
The King James version is especially interesting. Jesus tells the rich young ruler: “Sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor” (Luke 18:22b), reminding us of the “re-distribution of wealth” controversy during the 2008 Presidential election campaign. But that is the meaning of the Greek word “didomi”: “to distribute, hand over, give back, give up, give out, or divide things up.” Fatal to some political ideologies today, Jesus also said: “Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities” (Luke 12:48 The Message). Do your politics agree?

The early church practiced Jesus words: “They would sell their property and possessions and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed ... and every day the Lord added to their group ...” (Acts 2:45-47 TEV).