We are constantly hearing about greed from the liberal media and corrupt politicians. The Bible does speak of greed as a personal sin, but greed defined as the LOVE of money, cannot be used to describe the activities of a corporation or financial institution. The rationale for this argument is this: an individual, corporation or financial institution has a fiduciary and moral requirement to make as much money as possible. These business entities (made up of individuals) have entrusted funds of their own or of others which are given for the express purpose of growth and dividend and received with a promised fulfillment of the same. Jesus tells a story of a wealthy man who entrusts 3 servants with unequal sums of money (God is not a socialist). When called into account, the two servants who made 100% PROFIT, were commended, ‘Well done good and faithful slave’ and the liberal who thought profits were evil and made 0% PROFIT (a non profit organization) was condemned ‘You wicked and lazy slave’. What was given to him was taken away and given to those WHO MADE A PROFIT. This is what is referred to by liberal socialists as WINDFALL PROFITS. Jesus is advocating taking from the unproductive and giving it to the productive. Mat 25:29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.” This is real Christian Capitalism. Our country would solve our economic problems in less than one year if we would put into practice these Biblical principles. If tomorrow, we stopped giving to those who refuse to work [2Th 3:10 ‘For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.’] and returned those tax dollars to the individuals who earned them, we would see our nation rise once again to the greatness that God has for us.
God is the one who gives us the power to create wealth. Deu 8:17-18 “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ (18) “But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Since God gives the power to make (create) wealth, then wealth is from GOD and is good. To decry and denigrate corporations and financial institutions for making profits is to accuse God of incompetence and collusion and is libelous. It is time that we Christians return to BIBLICAL and common sense approaches to solving our economic problems.
Comment by thenness — March 2, 2009 @ 11:17 am
I think I understand what you are saying and why you are saying it. But many will view this as a one-sided argument that advocates making a profit at the expense of others. By this I include cheating the unsuspecting, overcharging, high-pressure sales to those who don’t know how to say “no”, eliminating the competition (as in gang and mob related activities), and so on. Making a profit should depend on providing a good product or service at a price that others are willing to pay.
And your comment regarding non-profit organizations may be misleading. Are all non-profit organizations contrary to God’s plan? Or is it wrong for profit-making businesses to be charitable? Of course not. James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
What holds true of an individual who desires to please and honor God should hold true of a business that wants to operate under Biblical principles.