Anyway, I guess it’s been a while since I’ve check this blog. I want to comment though. I agree mostly with Brendan. Read through Proverbs, Hard work = wealth. That’s the message taken from an awful lot of those verses.

Second, If you are blessed with more, that’s your opportunity to share with those who have less.

Third, God never suggested that he would treat people fairly or equally. Beyond food, how is it fair that a billion people have never heard the name of Jesus Christ but people in America have hundreds of versions of Bibles, churches, and Christian music festivals to choose from? Clearly God took action to bless guys like Jacob and Joseph with material stuff. Just as clearly, God didn’t bless Zacheus or Nebuchadnezer (sorry for the spelling there) with their stuff, they just got it the regular way.

More to the point, should you feel bad about your stuff? Not if you’ve earned it and come by it honestly. Does God expect you to give it all away to help the helpless? God loves generosity. I have wealthy friends with companies that feel like they do more good with their companies than by giving them away. They employ many people and are generous with their excess when possible.

Hope you’re doing well Chad. Now get back to blogging!

Or

should we change the way our culture and goverment looks at food and materials? it seems like a large job for such a small community to achieve. It discourages me.

You and I may disagree on OT perspectives and interpretation but this theme runs throughout the NT and with Jesus himself.

In the parable of the Talents (Matt 25 and Luke 14), God has no problems giving some people more and other less. But its what we do with what we’ve been given that counts. To whom much is given much is required.

The apostle Paul had no problem living in abundance sometimes and to be needy other times (Philippians 4:10-14). The point for him was being content in *both* circumstances.

If you feel guilty for your abundance than take Jesus’ words to heart. Luke 16 “I tell you, use worldly [unrighteous] wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

What kind of friends should you gain?

“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14

If you are looking to the Bible for a picture of equality of wealth you won’t find it in government or economic systems, you’ll find it in the Church (Acts 2&4) and yet not in every church (Eph 6 & Col 3).

I think that they Bible pretty clearly shows that God does bless people with more and to some he gives less. You shouldn’t feel guilty for that which you posses unless you personally got through unrighteous means and if you aren’t doing what he has asked you to do with it.