Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2020

Titius Justus (Acts 18:7), Philip (Acts 21:8), and Mnason (Acts 21:16). You can find other examples of private ownership if you search the remainder of the New Testament. More significantly, immediately following the remarkable generosity of Acts 4, Luke records the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Peter states to Ananias, “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” Peter reaffirms in these words the right of personal ownership while rebuking him for lying to the Holy Spirit. The New Testament church should passionately encourage generosity and caring for the poor as biblical principles, but we must be careful not to endorse a system of all things in common that the book of Acts does not mandate. Socialist control of the means of production can’t work, and even the “soft socialism” of wealth redistribution leads to lower standards of living for all. The government cannot give unless it first takes. This redistribution of wealth destroys the incentive to work hard. When citizens who don’t work realize they don’t have to do so because the government will provide and when citizens who do work hard realize someone else just takes more of their money, then we support unbiblical principles. The Bible teaches that we should work hard and then show personal generosity (2 Thess. 3:10–12, Eph. 4:28). THE “LOVE” OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL (1 TIM. 6:9–10) 1 Timothy 6:9–10 states, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” Money is a great servant but a horrible master. Money, possessions, and riches are all morally neutral items that can be used for good or evil. It’s the idolatry of money, possessions, and riches that is evil. Matthew 6:24 clearly states that you cannot serve God and money. Wealth is not evil and can be part of God’s blessing. Wealth always tests our allegiance and stewardship. Later in the same chapter, Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:17–19, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Paul doesn’t rebuke the rich for their wealth, but he encourages voluntary generosity and their worship to be of the God who provides and not what He has provided. Consider the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19:11–27 or the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30. The master commends those who have demonstrated good stewardship through multiplying resources. While we do not endorse the prosperity Gospel, Scripture consistently commends good stewardship and records God using servants with great wealth to accomplish His purposes. Furthermore, we should commend someone who determines a way to use resources more effectively. It demonstrates better stewardship of the resources and allows that person or organization to make more profit or sell the goods/services at a lower cost, which frees up scarce resources to be applied to other compelling needs. In other words, making a profit serves our neighbors well and allows for human flourishing. The evil we see so often pointed out in business or capitalism arises from the sinfulness of our hearts and the selfishness that so frequently characterizes our actions. When 6 | Cedarville Magazine