Toiling, spinning, and my 401k.

My mom and I had a discussion last night about a book she's reading, The Importance of Being Foolish. The author, Brennan Manning, discusses the need for Christians to turn away from the secular world and the things that distract us from Christ. But instead of the small-scale traditional punching bags like secuar music and television, Manning tells us we need to turn from the diversions of security, power, being liked.

On the one hand, it's easy to say money is the root of all evil, that man cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). But what does it mean to serve money? There are the obvious examples of people devoting their whole lives to the collection of obscene wealth. But most people aren't in that sort of financial position. Yet surely Jesus wasn't just talking to the Donald Trumps of the world?

The passage from Matthew (also in Luke 12:22-31) continues with Jesus pointing out that God provides everything for sparrow and even flowers. He says we matter much more than these things to God and so therefore we should not worry about how our needs will be met. How literally should we take this? Should I seriously not worry about going to work and getting paid, trusting that God will feed me and give me shelter? But even animals have to do some work (and plants too, if photosynthesis counts as work) to get food.

Maybe the passages are more about stockpiling wealth. The disciples were instructed not to bring money, extra clothes, or even a walking stick (Luke 9:3, Matthew 10:10 although Mark 6:8 allows the walking stick) on their journeys with Jesus. And he told a parable about a foolish rich man who, instead of giving his excess away, built larger barns in the hopes that he would have enough riches to last the rest of his life (Luke 12:13-21). Is this the same as a retirement plan? Is it wrong to save money for the future?

I'm sure there are people who would answer yes. And I'm sure these people whould argue that a person won't suffer or starve if s/he truly has faith that God will provide for her/him. But the logical end to that argument is that every poor person in the world is suffering simply because they do not have faith enough in God--that it is their fault they are hungry and homeless. I simply can't see God wanting us to purposely court poverty in order to prove our focus on Him. I do think we are called to live simply and give our wealth to those with less. But I don't think ignoring the monetary needs of our lives is the answer; perhaps redefining "need" is a good start.