Article July 10, 1902 Issue

Jesus and Wealth

The Standard

The attitude of Jesus toward wealth is a problem of frequent discussion, and as frequently finds strange and inadequate solution. It is not often that the world side, where money, selfishness, and competition seek for mastery, claims that Jesus actually took the side of the poor man as against the rich, and yet the presumption is sometimes made, probably for the purpose of controverting the claim attributed to the Christian world, that Jesus was at variance with the rich and in sympathy with the poor. It is assuming what is not generally held by Christian teachers, when it is affirmed that the readers of the New Testament consider Jesus to have taught that poverty is a virtue and wealth something to be condemned. What Jesus denounced was the love of gain and the lust of acquisition. He always drew a distinction between a man and his possessions, and in deciding for or against a man it was wholly on account of the relationship which the man sustained to his possessions.

It is certainly an anomalous position and one that is selfcondemning, for the world to attempt to make out a case that Jesus actually put himself at variance with the rich and taught that it was better for a man to be poor. He did say that it would be difficult for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God; not on account of his money, however, but because his affections were placed upon his wealth.

It might be a most effective way of arousing interest upon this subject if the world, instead of the preacher, should begin emphasizing this side of the truth. It is evident that numerous Scripture passages present a strong and startling array of warnings and instructions concerning the danger of wealth to a man's life. The attitude of our modern Christian world toward wealth is much the same as that of Jesus. He did not condemn wealth, but men who used their wealth wrongly. It is as much the province of the church to-day to take the gospel to the lost rich man as it is to take it to the lost poor man. Each is equally in need of it. It is true the man of wealth, in seeking Christ, will find less in his favor than the poor man, but he will find a Christ equally ready and anxious to save.

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A Handsome Fee
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