February 23, 2020: A New Economy – Amanda Lum

Jesus’ teachings on wealth and poverty seem offensive to our modern, Western, individualistic mindset. I mean “sell everything and give to the poor” would be irresponsible, right? And why would we not “store away in barns” since we need to be sure we are able to provide for ourselves in the future when we are old. And how exactly is God going to clothe us if we are not thinking about the fact that we need clothing on our backs? It’s worth noting, every time we think Jesus is out of touch we only prove we are more in touch with our culture than his heart.

We cannot miss Jesus’ call into a new community - a new social order. His last command to the rich young man, after he tells him to sell everything: “follow me.” It implies a new way of living in which generosity is a part of the whole. And this is what is so challenging about Jesus. His call is not just a private change of morals or philosophy. His call is into a new community which changes the meaning of family, success and wealth. He understood true wealth was not defined by cash, but by the how rich a person was “toward God”. Wealth measured in relationships, faith and generosity. This is why those who gave away everything found more than they first had, and why Jesus understood he had many mothers, brothers and sisters. It’s possible, the reason we struggle with generosity is because we have no real experience of true community.