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Yeah, there is definitely quite a bit to unpack. But you laid out one of the key principles: trust in God, not money, because money is fleeting and temporary while God is eternal.
A few other key points that are important to emphasize, I think:
- Material resources were indeed created for humanity's enjoyment. So enjoying material wealth isn't the problem; it's placing trust in it before God that's the problem.
- There is danger in both wealth and poverty. The danger of wealth is that you forget God and trust in your wealth; the danger of poverty is that you are tempted to steal and envy.
- The rich are commanded to be generous and compassionate the poor. However, unequal material wealth is not in and of itself condemned as something inherently wrong.
- Laziness is also condemned. Those who are able bodied should work. Work is also affirmed as something which is both good and proper and part of what it means to be made in the image of God. I characterize it as "participating in God's act of creation", given how Adam was created to work the garden and bring it to its fullness.
- Private property is affirmed, but taxation is not condemned as improper either. (I know the libertarians are gonna hate that one. But a very interesting passage comes from 1 Samuel 8, in which the Israelites demand to have a king to rule them, but the prophet Samuel warns the Israelites that they will chafe under the king's taxation)
Great points.
I had a epiphany recently on the sermon on the mount opening: Blessed are the poor in spirit
It's basically affirming every thing in your list....which is blessed are those who don't trust in money and who can live as if they have nothing. Blessed are those who can live without the trappings of wealth...
Private property is affirmed, but taxation is not condemned as improper either.
Neither is slavery! (which I'm not suggesting is ok). Which is interesting because after all taxation is really just another form of slavery.
Interesting point re: taxation and slavery. Although slavery is not explicitly condemned, neither is it condoned, and there are many admonitions regarding the just treatment of slaves and such, so theologians argue that the principles of the Bible eventually lead to the abolition of slavery. I wonder if that case can be made with regard to taxation.
We’ll have to end taxation first
I've been thinking recently about the entire Christ view of money (easier for camel to pass thru eye of camel rather than rich man to enter heaven, etc).
There is lots there to unpack, but to summarize - its not about condemnation of wealth per se, its actually reads much different if you think about it from a compassionate framework....he feels pity and sorrow for the rich-man because that rich man has become trapped by his wealth. He trusts in his money to provide him security, thus it blunts his trust in God.