Wealth

God's economic system is different from the world's. Most of our lives are spent working for, acquiring and spending money. God understands the value of wealth, but He handles the power behind the getting of wealth very differently than what man understands in the world. Both Abraham and Solomon were the richest men of their respective eras. Both of them in their time made Elon Musk and Bill Gates look like small-time "pikers". Jacob miraculously attained flocks and herds by the favor of the LORD, great enough in number to trade for his and his children's safety from his brother Esau, who sought to kill him. There are other examples in scripture of great wealth in the hands of God's people. The world's system of earning, investing, buying and selling, which is the opposite of God's economy, is so invasive and pervasive, that even we who love God have difficulty viewing wealth in any other way. This week's Sabbath reading gives us a glimpse of God's economic system and is titled Re'eh, which means "See or Behold". We can get a beginning idea of the Foundation of Godly wealth. Let's look at some of the economic instructions given to God's people in this Sabbath reading: "...love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; You shall serve Him and hold fast to Him...that the LORD may...show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply (raba - increase, much, abundance, enlarge, make great, become numerous, exceedingly great, to produce much) you, just as He swore to your fathers." (Deut. 13:3-4, 17). Moses also relayed to the people that they were not to be drawn away or enticed from the LORD to serve other gods or powers, not even by the words of a prophet showing signs (miracles), or close loved ones, or those living in their cities, or the cities around them (v. 1-16). So multiplication of all things towards us is found in the LORD, and not in anything else. Are we looking for increase from another source? That's what the world does. Another principle in the economy of God is found in giving, rather than getting. The LORD teaches His people the power of the tithe, which is giving in worship to the LORD through His priesthood, the Levites, and the setting aside of portions also for the stranger, the widow, and the fatherless: "...that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do." (Deut. 14:29). The world, on the other hand, pursues getting in order to get more. Our own homes and garages are so full of our "gettings" that we have to sell some of those gettings to make room for new gettings. However, these gettings have removed wealth from our hands, rather than adding wealth. The next instruction from God deals with debt. He doesn't want His people working all of their lives to pay debt. We do not acquire wealth through debt, as we have been told by the world. Only banks acquire wealth from our debt. In the second quarter of 2022, the household debt in the United States, for instance, reached 16.15 trillion dollars, showing a record-breaking increase. In God's economy, however: "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts...Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD's release (shamat/Shemitah - fling down, overthrow, let rest, throw down, shake, release)." (Deut. 15:1-2). The power of the LORD's release, according to the meaning of the word in Hebrew, overthrows oppressive powers. How many of us when someone owes us an unpaid debt, instead of applying the LORD's release to it, we have grown hurt, bitter and resentful over it? The LORD commanded: "...you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother...for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance..." (v. 3-4). Would you rather have the limited funds from the debt owed to you, or the true wealth of the inheritance that God has promised if you follow the LORD's release? There's more to the LORD's release in the seventh year. If a brother Israelite had been working for his debt-holder for six years to pay off the debt, not only is he to be "released" from service in the seventh year, but also "...you shall not let him go away empty-handed; you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the LORD has blessed you with, you shall give to him...Then the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do." (v. 12-18). This would never happen in the world's economic system, and that system is so powerfully ingrained in our lives that it is difficult to renew our own thinking regarding it. The Word of God however, is wisdom and life to His people if we will love Him, hear His voice, and receive His instruction. The LORD again cautions His people to be a lender to others, and not borrowers: "For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you...you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not reign over you." (v. 6). If a brother is poor, the LORD said: "...you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart...and it become sin among you. You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand." (v. 7-10). The world's programs of assistance to the poor have not been successful. These aid programs do not supply all that is needed, and they still leave the recipient and future generations to continue in poverty. In God's economy, not only are all of the needs of a poor brother met, but according to the promise of the LORD, all of His people will be prospered in all that pertains to them, as well, if they will listen and learn. Are we able to accept God's concept as it is written in these verses? Finally, the LORD reminded His people to come before Him in observance of His feasts: "...because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice." (Deut. 16:1-17). In another part of this Sabbath's reading, we see the LORD's economic teaching again. He instructs His people in the way of honesty and integrity in their economic dealings: "Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice....Honest weights and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are His work (ma'ase - deed, business, thing offered, workmanship, enterprise, accomplishment, deliverance of justice)...How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." (Prov. 16:8, 11, 16). This is at complete odds with the economic system of the world. We can read the blessing that co-exists with God's economic principles here: "When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (v. 7). As you know, though the world chases wealth, there is little peace. In the economy of this world, the wealthy build or buy large, ornate houses for themselves that testify of their riches, with secured gates and alarms to protect their goods. The LORD however is building a different kind of house of wealth for His people with the principles of His economy. It is a house that all of the wealth of the world combined could not buy: "For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' Says the LORD, who has mercy on you. 'O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest and not comforted, Behold, I will lay (rabas - cause to lie down, to stretch out, to make a flock lie down) your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you." (Isa. 54:10-14). These blessings can never be acquired through the world's system of wealth. The LORD's economy includes the Messiah, and His appearance, as Isaiah prophesied this about Jesus, Who was to come: "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance." (Isa. 55:1-2, see also Jn. 7:37-38). God is not against His people prospering, but teaches His people the correct path in which to walk in order to prosper in His economy. It is an economy that enriches, but adds no sorrow with it (Prov. 10:22). We only have to consider examples of some of the wealthiest people in the world's economy to see the sorrows that the world has mixed with its path to riches. God's economy is established by a heart attitude, and it begins with our loving Him, and Him only as our God, with all of our hearts and souls, as Moses wrote above. If you would like to understand more about God's economy, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You created the world and everything in it, and it belongs to You (Ps. 24:1). Help me to understand and walk in Your economy, rather than the world's economy. Jesus told us that we cannot serve both God and Mammon, a false god of money. This day, I choose You, and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit as I renew my mind in Your Word. Bless our households according to Your promises, as we follow after You. In Jesus' name, I ask. AMEN."