No poor among us?
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During my time as a paid Seminary teacher in Utah, I had occasion to deliver some things to several students who weren’t currently attending classes due to the temporary shut downs due to the pandemic back in 2020.
What surprised me as I drove around was the disparity of economic prosperity that existed amongst Latter-day Saints, people who are often first to defend their Christianity and profess their commitment to Christ.
One stop took me to a secluded, dead-end street on a hillside where a very large, and well landscaped home stood, I am not a realtor, but Zillow estimates the home at around $1.7 million. Another took me to a humble trailer park tucked behind some businesses. I checked today and their is a trailer listed for sale currently in that park for $45,000. That’s a massive gap, and I observed it in less than 30-minutes.
Now before you start the whole "who are you to judge" speech, let me stop you right there. I am not here to condemn anyone. We are all doing our best, and ultimately we are all accountable to God. But I do have some questions.
Income inequality is one of those buzz words that gets people on all sides fired up. Inequality exists, we can’t pretend it doesn’t. It’s another one of those complex and complicated social problems that has no simple answers or solutions.
But how is it, or how did it become so, that men and women who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ and members of his restored church, could allow such inequality to exist amongst their own ranks?
How can we possibly begin to tackle the national and global wealth inequality and poverty when we as disciples cannot even figure it out amongst ourselves?
I have often asked myself at what point would Jesus be displeased with the amount of worldly possessions accumulated. Do we as Christians really need a bigger house? a newer or more luxurious car? a lavish vacation?
Christians do give, and I know wealthy Christians give a lot.
But I am always reminded of this account found in the Gospel of Mark,
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people
cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites,
which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples,
and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor
widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into t
he treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance;
but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Is it enough to only give out of our abundance and leave so much for ourselves?
We all could give a hundred justifications for why we have the house we do, the car we drive or the things we own or do. But perhaps Christ really does want us to be more like the widow, whether we have two mites, or two million dollars.
As I have studied the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, it is clear to me that the pursuit and possession of worldly wealth matter very little to him. Of course we should strive to be self-reliant and prosperous.
But no matter the size of our retirement fund or square footage of our house, it's all left behind when we find ourselves stood face to face with our maker. And perhaps Christ might ask, "did you love me more than your house, car, retirement fund, golf clubs...?"
I don't know, nor would I say how much is too much, or when the pursuit and acquisition of possessions or experiences becomes sinful and unchristian. But I can say that one of the characteristics of a Zion people is that we have no poor among us. How do you think we are doing?
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