FRIDAY, May 7

Matthew 7:1-12. In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.

Someone has drawn a caricature of the medieval lord speaking to his subjects from the castle balcony: "Remember the Golden Rule," he is saying, "whoever has the gold makes the rules!"

Too often that seems to be true. "Money talks," we say, or "If you've got enough money you can get away with anything." Seldom do the acquisition of money and a high ethical standard go together. Proof is all around us: the poor of the world, battered and polluted nations, war-torn countries, men and women run over by the juggernaut of greed in one way or another. Those blessed with wealth--individuals or nations--will someday stand at the judgment seat. Those who have the gold will be called on to justify the rules they made and explain the ones they broke. Money is power, and the Bible shouts the warning that God will hold responsible those to whom he gives power.

The Golden Rule has nothing to do with rules. It has to do with love. Whoever has the gold must give it away. (1973)

PRAY for the Diocese of Christ the King (Southern Africa)

Ps 106:1-18 * 106:19-48; Leviticus 23:1-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Money and ethical standards

May 07, 2010 at 7:29 am

Written by Dick Bonnet,

The assumption that if you have money you are somehow NOT ethical is not only wrong but is an affront to any successful business man or woman. Our capitalist system is successful because people are motivated by making a better life for themselves and their families. It is not a zero sum game. If someone is wealthy that does not translate into more people are poor. In fact I would bet that more people have been raised out of poverty by successful business formation than by governments. Certainly there are examples of greed running rough shod over people but to paint anyone with money with that broad brush is not only unfair and untrue but it negates the good that these people do in their businesses in their communities and their churches.

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May 07, 2010 at 7:47 am

Written by Mary kier,

If you take it in coontext with all the other "sins" that seperate one from god it is just as damaging as a urging else. Greed is an ugly thing but philanthropy follws the golgen rule to the tee. There is wealth and there are the wealthy. Like every one else they can choose greed or they can use their wealth for good.

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May 07, 2010 at 7:48 am

Written by Barbara Summers,

Dick, your thoughts echo mine. Why should wealthy, successful people have to apologize for achieving the American Dream? True, there are corrupt rich people--but there are also corrupt, evil poor people. Many fabulously wealthy people are charitable and philanthropic, like Bill and Melinda Gates. Godly and ungodly individuals exist at all economic levels.

Economics Lesson

May 07, 2010 at 8:22 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Dick, you're right. Wealth is not a zero-sum game.

A ledger, found in my Grandmother's attic, was kept by my Great-Grandfather for his neighbors. The ledger recorded trades. Each trade was valued in money; but, there was no money. The ledger was the record of wealth traded and owed. The wealth was created by the industry of each of the neighbors, either through production or services.

Lesson: There is not a fixed amount of "wealth" out there that we are all competing for. We create wealth by our activity, our industry. Wealth is theoretically infinite. Praise be to God for this abundant Life.

Editor, Forward Day by Day

May 07, 2010 at 8:25 am

Written by Richard H Schmidt,

All three of your comments are helpful. Thank you for them. As I see it, capitalism is good at generating wealth, the means of sustaining and improving human life, and it is certainly not true that all successful businessmen are bad people. But capitalism poses two dangers. First, it can lead to huge inequities, and second, it can encourage the worship of money (about which Jesus warned us so many times). Captialixm is better than socialism, but it needs to be tempered, I think. The church's (and Forward Day by Day's) job is not to formulate economic policy, but to point people beyond material wealth to the true object of our worship.

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May 07, 2010 at 8:42 am

Written by Andrea,

Interesting discussion. Agreed that wealth is not a zero-sum game. Also agreed that neither the church nor FDBD is responsible for making economic policy. However, it is and has been the Christian church's mission to critique systems that result in huge inequities and to provide a voice for the poor. I didn't read today's meditation as an attack on wealth or wealthy people or wealthy nations, so much as a critique of what those with the wealth (and power) have chosen to do or not to do for "the least of these". I also think it is misses the point to say that ungodly individuals exist at all economic levels, because those with relatively less wealth have less power to shape their own lives, let alone the lives of others - and the meditation seems to be calling attention to this differing power (and the accompanying responsibility), not to differing levels of godliness.

Keep a little and give the rest away

May 07, 2010 at 10:35 am

Written by Frederick Wright,

It is a simple teachings of blessing our neighbor with God's riches and if God Blesses a person with money, then help the poor, fund a Hospital, fund a school, fund a Community Church,the ones in need of God's Blessings. We the Christians are the blessings to be shared with our neighbors for Jesus makes it very clear that all comes from the Father and how his community will share God's fruits with a heart of Love. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Holy Fruits of righteousness, and all else will be taken care of for God's Kingdom of Peoples,

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May 07, 2010 at 1:53 pm

Written by Sheri Christi,

People are different. My mother was always trying to feed me the meat and potatoes that she loved and not the lighter cuisine that I (and my body) prefer. When we do unto other as we would have them do to us, we are actually putting projections on people. Communication with the intent to understand and the realization that our good intentions may be someone else’s hell will prevent some of the projections. Then too, I’m not sure why giving wealth away is better than starting a business – particularly now since the US would benefit by entrepreneurs interested in manufacturing – but not caring about our fellow man at all is a big problem. Thanks for the good posts.

Agree to Disagree

May 07, 2010 at 3:58 pm

Written by Michael Shirley,

Dick, we all have different political opinions on how Americans prosper financially. I think the point is that if you have the means to help, whether financially/physically/mentally, and you look the other way, then you have not treated your neighbor as yourself. We all have different opinions about capitalism and "socialism" etc. Maybe we should start worrying about our "Christianism" and not make God chose a political party. In heaven we will only thrive on one government and that is praising and worshipping the Triune God and the grace they have freely given us.

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May 08, 2010 at 2:06 am

Written by Evan Roberts,

Andrea the points you make resonate with me. I wish to add that I think that the real danger of money is that it insulates us from the suffering of others. We live our lives and associate with people in comparable economic and social status. It is easy to think that we got where we are by our own industriousness, ingenuity or what ever inherent traits we possess. And while these are indeed important we also benefit from the family we are born into, the people who love us, lend us a hand and lift us up. The grace of God if you will. I need only pass through an inner city neighborhood to be reminded of this and what others are up against. Then I go back to my comfortable life and forget. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. A kingdom where all are lifted up!

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