LENT SERIES – 1 MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND ...

Exodus 21-23 in full). The most powerful of these laws is that ofJubilee (Leviticus 25) which sought to ensure that in each generationthe balance of ownership, and thus control, was restored to a balancedequity. The continuous enrichment of the successful andimpoverishment of the poor was not to mark the people of Israel. Theprovision for the poor also was never to diminish their own value andintegrity; nor was it to make them lazy – so they had to collect thegrain left in the fields themselves. They were to work to provide forthemselves; but the whole society was to ensure there was work forthem to do. This is wonderfully illustrated in practice in the story ofRuth.d) The law recognised that from Adam and Eve onwards humankind hasbeen subject to the desire to have that which it should not have, or tohave more than its fair share – hence the 8 th commandment “You shallnot steal” and the 10 th commandment, “You shall not covet” (Exodus20:15+17 Deut 5:19+21)e) It also recognised the danger of wealth leading to a sense of selfsufficiency and ability leading to a failure to recognise or rely on God.Wealth and success tended to pull people away from God rather thantowards him (Deut 8 esp 11-14,17f) Wealth and possessions wereseen as a sign of God’s blessing but there was also this recognition oftheir danger and curse.f) It also set the law not only in the context of God as Creator but also asRedeemer. The law reminds the Israelites that they were rescuedslaves and so they were to treat all well, as God had treated them(Deut 6,9,11; Lev 19:1-18)The WritingsWhen it comes to the Writings, like the Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastesthere is a real awareness that wealth is not always gained through goodbehaviour and as a blessing. The dangers of wealth are well recognised,as is the impermanence of it (e.g. Psalm 73, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs10+11). There is recognition that hard work can produce wealth, and thatlaziness or folly can lead to poverty. Yet equally a recognition that not allwealth is gained fairly or honestly, and that poverty is not a sign offailure. Hence the balance arrived at by Agur “Give me neither povertynor riches” (Prov 30:8).The ProphetsThe books we tend to call ‘History’ give due warning about the growingpower and wealth of the monarchy. Samuel warns the people of thedemand for taxes, and service, that a King will make on them (1 Sam8:11-18). The growth in wealth and power of the King is then