Main news for 6 August 2007

How does God regard human wealth? According to the Old Testament, it would appear that everything is clear: God blesses with wealth those who please Him. That means the rich are pleasing to God. Yet Jesus rather takes the side of the poor ("It is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom"), and this is especially noticeable in many parables. But the apostle Paul again speaks of wealth as a gift of God. What is the matter? Does one need to understand these words figuratively, spiritually? No, Paul is speaking precisely about material things, and one should not immediately spiritualize this phrase. Let us sort it out. Already the Old Testament prophets denounced the wealthy people of Israel for their lack of mercy. And Jesus objects not to wealth in itself, but to the way people relate to it and use it. The apostle Paul continues this same line: wealth given by God always has a purpose: good works, the very works to which the Gospel calls us.