“The person who loves money more than other people is the cause of some people’s poverty. Their misery is the mark of humanity’s sin – everyone’s sin. This is why it is hopeless to try to get rid of poverty by economic means. We can hope for no modification in the human condition unless we begin believing in God’s love. This is the only possible way to break the dramatic chain of oppression and misery in which we live. “ – Jacques Ellul (Source: Money and Power via inward/outward)
Wow … this is more precious than any supper I’m used to before sleep. I find it fascinating how God’s love is brought into the discussion on money, poverty and economics in the quote above. So often God’s love is marginalized from what we deem as practical day to day stuff. It’s reduced to a warm fuzzy feeling when in actual fact it’s the bread and butter of life! I’m challenged tonight not to surrender “God’s love” to mere inward pietistic feel-good-ness. It’s power that can break us out of our self-imposed or self-inflicted prisons because we are unable to relate to money properly.
It’s a long battle … it requires discipline and discernment. Both qualities which are rare these days.
Hi sivin,
Good post. It is indeed sad that we often dissociate God from any discussion on money, economics, and poverty. God’s love should be the driving force behind the economies of the world. That’s why Satan offered Jesus the world as one of his temptations.
Unfortunately, the rich (who becomes progressively richer by the fact that they are rich) are so insecure that much of their wealth is spent ensuring their own security that none is left over for the eradication of poverty.
I remember reading this somewhere but pardon my poor memory that I can’t recall where:
“it’s hard to be poor and happy at the same time.”
…and personally I have also known some very rich and “up” people who live by this:
“It’s hard to be rich and not be burdened.”
So if money is our focus, there will never be contentment. There is never enough money anyway you want to look at it.
Phek Kin – I was reading Luther’s Large Catechism and his commentary on the 1st commandment and was intrigued when he spent lots of time singling out Money (or Mammon) as an idol even during his time. Humans have not changed much huh? and it even crosses cultures!