Capitalism On Purpose
but rather let him labor, working the good with the hands, that he may have to give to the one having need. Ephesians 4:28
Have To Give – Why do you work? Try making the list of your work objectives. Let’s see – pay the bills, keep a roof over your head, provide for your family, gain recognition for your efforts, do what you love to do (and get paid for it). You might add one more. Paul implies that one of the reasons for working is to have in order to give. The Greek phrase is eche metadidomai. This is capitalism on purpose. Why? Because the biblical view is giving from excess, that is, giving from the profit made above what is necessary to live. You have to have something before you are able to give it away.
There are a few implications here that require articulation. First, work is good. God established the goodness of work in the Genesis account. Work is part of what it means to become human. Of course, in God’s design, work is supposed to be an expression of my true essence. I am designed by God to do exactly what fits His plan. When I work in that way, my work is a form of worship. It is fulfilling for me, delightful to Him and a blessing to others, all at once. If that’s not what you’re doing, it’s time to reevaluate.
Secondly, work is not about accumulating. I do not have in order to have. It’s not about collecting coin or toys. Work is designed to be the super-fruit of my life. I produce what God has designed me to produce for the benefit of others. My work becomes the vehicle for others’ consumption. In the past, we looked at the idea that what I bear in my life becomes food for other lives. In this way, we are all interdependent on each other and dependent on the Lord.
Finally, we should notice that this verb, metadidomi, is used to describe the action of giving alms. It is about sharing what I have with someone in need. In other words, Paul suggests that work is intended to produce charity. This was enormously important in the Jewish community. From a biblical point of view, people do not work to enhance their lives. They work in order to live so that they may study Torah, pray and give to others. In this way, work becomes an act of righteousness.
Maybe we need to do a quick evaluation of our attitudes and objectives when it comes to work. Outside the biblical culture, the objective of work is too often all about getting ahead, maintaining a lifestyle and collecting security for the future. All of those objectives rest on the basis of a world that needs to be controlled. Maybe you and I have unconsciously absorbed some of these misdirected goals. Maybe we need to take a long look at why we work and ask ourselves if eche metadidomai is at the top of our list.
Topical Index: give, charity, eche metadidomai, Ephesians 4:28, work
Both my husband and i are saved. We live next door to my dad.Weve been married for 16yrs and are still in this mobile home as my husband puts it..when my mother passed away 2yrs ago,not only did my father drop into a depression he cant seem to shake,but he lost nearly 600 dollars a month from losing moms SS so now we cover the 600 a month.
when dad began having trouble financially in frustration i just prayed and cried to GOD and said “im not asking to be rich, I just wish i had enough that i could give to help my dad..i luv my mobile home,its paid for,..its my home,and weve been able to help my dad so he can still be the man of his home and not a patient in an old peoples home.dads not long for this world either,but bills are now causing great stress in the marriage..I was feeling so blessed that the Lord gave me a job i love,i didnt know i would love it..i was actually scared i would hate but i felt the Lords leading so i followed..I dont want to do anything if My God is not involved because i know it will only crumble, and now it seems my marriage is in trouble because we cannot keep up with the jones’ in my husbands view and now im considered as selfish for helping my dad. this devotion was a blessing to me today..sometimes we forget our blessings,and today i was reminded that God’s touch is all over my life.
Dear Carolyne,
Tell us how we can help.
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Dear Sister Carolyne,
Interestingly enough, I just “tuned in” to the blog after having been on the phone with my nephew and we were discussing Scriptural aspects of prosperity and how we both feel people have missed it in the west. In this great nation of such monetary overflow, the spiritual poverty level appears to be rising. Maybe He will use this “financial crisis” the US is in to flip this scenario for those who say they are followers of Jesus. Maybe we need to study the Word a little deeper and hear what God’s heart says about the true purpose of finances. The temptation is all around us and our culture screams for our accumulation of things although we, in Christian circles, say we do not live for those things. My husband and I will have this crop up in our relationship from time to time too and I will say, it is a battle to maintain the contentedness the Scriptures declare we are to live in. I pray for the peace of Christ to rule in your home. I pray for the mind of Christ to be in you both as you willingly submit to His Authority to guide you in the Way. Bless you both.