Does the Bible Mind if You're Rich?

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

There has been much discussion recently in certain circles about Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s sermon at the service for Donald Trump’s inauguration. After wading into this slightly, I got into a conversation with a conservative Christian friend who claimed that when the New Testament talks about “the poor”, it merely means the spiritual poor and is not talking about those with little money. This prompted me to revisit some passages from the New Testament on the rich and poor. What do you think the cumulative message of these passages is?

Luke 6: 20-25.

Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.

Matthew 19: 24 I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 2: 44 (This describes the first Christian community) All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Luke 1: 53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
but has sent the rich away empty.

James 5: 1-5 Listen, you rich men! Cry about the troubles that will come to you. Your riches are worth nothing. Your fine clothes are full of moth holes. Your gold and silver have rusted. Their rust will speak against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have saved riches for yourselves for the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

Luke 16: 19-25 There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.” But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”

James 2: 5-7 Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

Luke 2: 7 She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Matthew 20: 16 The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.