The question on its face seems rather insane. It demands not just a “no” but a “by no means.” If not a “why would you ask such a stupid question?”. I ask the question, however, because God Himself once asked it. God’s people were wondering why in their return from exile they weren’t enjoying the blessings God had promised. God sent the prophet Malachi to tell them. Among God’s complaints- men were robbing God by not paying their tithes.
Now it is not my intention here to argue over the tithe, one way or another. I desire instead to affirm the most basic, most fundamental economic reality there is- God owns everything. Unless we get this truth, from the top of our mousse shaped noggins to the bottom of our Bass Weejuns we’ll not rightly understand either economics, nor our calling in His world.
God put a man and a woman in His garden. He called them to dress and to keep that garden, to rule over the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and every creeping thing that creeps upon the ground. God didn’t give them the world He had made, but He did put them in charge. He called them to be His stewards, and gave them a job to do.
If we understood this we’d understand the problem with bloated governments, mandates from Health and Human Services. The problem isn’t that the state steals from us, but that it steals from God. Because He is the Master, the Maker, and the light of the sun maker, He is the one who delegates His wealth to the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker. When a petty thief, or a grasping state decides that it knows better how that wealth ought to be handled it is not merely stealing from men, but from God. And in so doing affirming that they know better than God.
In like manner when we by His grace manage to keep what He has given us, when we multiply it, when we invest it, we are being wise stewards of what is His. His mind you, not the church’s. If we are handling what is God’s as He would have us, caring for our families, serving our customers, giving to the church what we ought, can anyone find fault?
Yes, God could. For we have forgotten one thing. God also commanded His people this- that they should “spend the money for whatever your desire- oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household” (Deuteronomy 14:26).
That God owns everything doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy what He has given. It means we must enjoy what He has given. We have obligations, but they are to Him, the Owner. God commands us to care for those under our care. He wants us to support the mission of the church. The Father wants us to invest in future productivity. He wants us to enjoy. All of these honor Him. All of these acknowledge Him as our Lord.
More wisdom on biblical economics is available here.