Page 35 - Christ and Culture Textbook

Study Section 6: The Gospel and Poverty

6.1 Connect

We live in an imperfect world with an enormous unevenness of wealth and power. God is a
God of justice and wants his people to make a difference in the world, standing up for those
who cannot stand up for themselves and sharing what we have with those who have
nothing. Jesus taught his followers to help the poor. What is the most effective and biblical
means for helping the poor? How Christians can make a genuine and lasting difference for
the poor? What did Jesus really teach about wealth and poverty? Did Jesus discourage
wealth? What does the Bible teach about wealth and poverty? When believers care for the poor, they
imitate Jesus and in doing so effectively minister to him (see Matt. 25:31-46). While there will always be
spontaneous poverty before the return of the Lord (see Mark 14:7), laboring in order to meet the needs
of the poor is a duty of members of the body of Christ.

Let’s begin our study today to see if some of these questions can be answered….

6.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to discuss what the Bible says about poverty.

2. The student should be able to explain what the Bible teach about Wealth.

3. The student should be able to cite practical ways in which we meet the needs of others.

4. The student should be able to become good stewards of God’s provisions.

6.3 Where Rich and Poor Collide

Greediness is a controversial issue in the church today. Many people have made this issue of
debate. The pursuit of wealth is seen as the highest good in many Cultures. Though material
things are not the highest good, neither are they intrinsically evil. There is no room for radical
asceticism or monasticism in the church, as these positions deny the world and creation. It is
important to recognize the rich and the poor will always collide. Materialism is everywhere
and in every culture. Christians have argued that communal living or equal distribution of
wealth is the only acceptable Christian norm, based on the presupposition that the concept of private
property is illegitimate for the Christian.

Hard work must be encouraged
The avoidance of work is regarded as sin. Paul commands labor as an ethical norm. Idleness has no place
in the New Testament ethic. In 2 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul says that all people should “earn their own
living.” In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul adds that lack of provision for one’s household makes one worse than an
unbeliever. There is the right of private property as the fruit of one’s labor. And there is the
responsibility of honest and industrious labor. Since we live to the glory of God, we have the

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