God’s Word to You is Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
I’ve talked about work and Jesus being or not being a Socialist a few times. It’s a bit of a touchy subject for some. People use verses meant for us individually as well as use those verses to guilt others into accepting their views to push a false theology.
I saw a discussion that suggested Capitalism is the cause of people being poor.
Sadly many who think that way refuse to even discuss why they may be right or wrong. But here’s the bottom line. Neither side needs to engage into the argument. It’s useless. There will always be those addicted to victim hood, both those who are perpetual victims as well as those who encourage or support them.
Jesus tells us there will always be the poor. There will always be the wicked who use pity to steal. But compassion is for all. Help is for all. We need to use discernment in who and how we help though.
Those unable to work due to physical or mental reasons need to be helped. That includes children as well as widows. They need all the support that can be given. Biblically by the families first. But lets face it, the family has become less than it is meant to be in our world today.
What doesn’t need to be done is try to make those who work hard and have much give more than they should to those who don’t and in many cases won’t work hard.
That is sinful. It’s called greed and envy.
Biblically any of us who manages what we have will be given more. One way is don’t live beyond your means. Don’t build mountains of debt. Don’t have several credit cards maxed out. Doing so is not biblical.
And now the last bottom line as far as capitalism. It offers anyone who works hard a chance to build more. If you are worried about what someone else has or that someone has more than you and you think Jesus wants you to take it from them then you may need to get on your knees more and read your Bible more often.
Sound like a heartless theology? It’s not.
Do we let people starve and go unclothed? Of course not. But we also don’t hand them all the best of life free of charge. We use discernment, compassion and love as well as our own resources to help lift them up so they can be self sustaining and at some point help others too.
Don’t believe me? Well read this scripture again. It may not sound fair but don’t we usually equate fair to our own ideas as well as wants and needs?
Love me or hate me
me n’ God love ya