The Problem of Rich and Poor

It is only April of 2015 and already the race for the 2016 Presidential election is gearing up. Elections have a tendency to bring out the worst in people (much like Internet comment sections) but this year promises to be worse than most as it is without an incumbent candidate. Everyone is fair game. During election season (which seem to be continual) a lot of judgements and accusations get thrown around. This is really just a product of our sinful nature but it becomes particularly evident during campaigns.

With the economic disparity currently seen in the United States some of the most vitriolic accusations seen are those against the rich and those against the poor.

It is very easy to blame the rich for the plight of the poor. It is easy to attribute the financial gain of others  to exploitation or some moral failing. After all, we’ve seen vivid examples of just this sort of thing in the news. Corporate CEO’s benefitting from golden parachutes while duping investors out of millions. Millionaire athletes shirking tax bills. Add to that the very basic human emotion of jealousy which causes us to desire the wealth and security these individuals possess. However, when we take a step back, the black and white struggle against the 1% becomes much hazier. How much money does it take for one to become “rich”? If we’re honest with ourselves, we always strive for just a little more; just a little more and our lives would be secure.  When we realize that when we look at the “rich” we are not looking at our neighbor’s yard but rather gradients of a sprawling field, it becomes much more difficult to cast stones.

It is also very easy to blame the poor for causing their own problems. This is a common accusation during campaign stops. Listen to any debate on welfare or social services and you can usually trace the flicker of self-righteousness. America, it is said, is built upon the notion of pulling oneself up by the bootstraps (sorry Andrew Carnegie) through hard work and perseverance and we’ve all seen and read examples that give us inspiring stories of men and women whose empires were built upon sweat and guile. How easy is it then to look at the poor and disenfranchised with judgment that they lack or choose (through irresponsible decision-making) to build a capable life for themselves? These accusations are less often spoken but undercurrents in speeches and conversations. However, just as the concept of the “wealthy” is a spectrum, so is the concept of “poor”. Beyond that, we must force ourselves to sympathize with the situations of others and see the larger forces and incidents that create poverty. When we do this, we are faced not with a sycophantic mass but individual people and families struggling to build their own lives.

We are often quick to fall into either of these two camps, but I want to challenge us to ask 3 questions of ourselves before we cast judgement:

1.       Are you making wise financial decisions with your money? While it is easy to crucify the rich for exorbitant purchases and indulgences, it is much harder to ask the question: “how am I spending my money?” Are you indulging on unnecessary items? Are they justified? It is easy to say that the poor make poor financial decisions, but it is much harder to ask: “am I frivolous with my money?”

2.       Are you being generous with the money you have? Wealth or poverty is no justification for selfishness. If we decry others for their financial impropriety then we must also look upon ourselves and assess our own charity. Jesus’ parable of the talents gives us a model for how we are to steward our gifts (monetary or otherwise) whether we are wealthy or poor.

3.       Is the amount of money you have an impediment to gratitude? The root of our judgmental attitudes toward the finances of others is ingratitude toward the One who provided them. When we covet the wealth of others we disrespect the Lord who gave to us more than we deserve. When we mismanage that which we have been given we fail to steward that which has been entrusted to us. Jesus gives two examples that highlight this principle. Jesus discouraged the rich young man who came to follow Him but was unable to relinquish that which his heart most desired --- his wealth, for the sake of the Kingdom. It was his love of money which attempted to co-reign with Christ in his life. This cannot be. Nothing (least of all money) can share kingship with Christ in our lives. In contrast, Jesus brought to the attention of his disciples an impoverished widow who gave a small coin to the temple coffers. She, Jesus attested, gave out of her poverty rather than excess. Her generosity was rooted in her faithfulness. Both of these examples show us that wealth (or lack of it) is never to rule over our lives. Both jealousy and judgement are destroyed by gratitude.

So as we embark on this political season, let us consider first our own hearts before lashing out (especially on Facebook and Twitter) from unhealthy motives.