“Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” (Deuteronomy 8:18a NIV)
The Bible says in Deuteronomy 8:18, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (NIV).
Every economy, including America, has wealth makers and wealth takers. They have wealth producers and wealth users, wealth contributors and wealth consumers. The economy gets turned upside down when there are more consumers than there are contributors. That’s what’s happening right now in America. We have more consumers than we have contributors.
Yet God designed us to create wealth, to produce wealth; he designed us to be productive people. God wants you to be productive, and his plan for your life includes wealth creation — not wealth redistribution.
Let me explain the difference between capitalism, communism, and Christianity.
Capitalism says, “What’s mine is mine, and I’m going to keep it.”
Communism says, “What’s yours is mine, and I have a right to take it.” That’s called redistribution of wealth.
But Christianity says, “What’s mine is really God’s, and I’m willing to share it.”
One of the reasons our economy has collapsed is because for many years, huge numbers of people — particularly on places like Wall Street — were making outrageous amounts of money without really creating anything. They didn’t create services. They didn’t create benefits. They didn’t create products. They didn’t create jobs. They simply made money on money.
That is not what God wants us to do. God wants us to provide benefits, services, and protection to others. He wants us to create opportunities to help people.
When somebody taxes you to help the poor, you don’t get any credit for it. But when you are voluntarily generous and help others, that builds your character. It helps you grow. Becoming more productive and generous helps you to become more like Christ.
Talk It Over
--How does the work you do create opportunities to help other people?
--Is it easier for you to be generous with your time or with your money? Why do you think this is so?
--What financial goals has your family set? What are you working for?
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