hard work, personal responsibility and winning

This year's political discourse has drawn a clear distinction between success from individual hard work underwritten by personal responsibility AND government's need to determine how "society's wealth" (wealth does not belong to individuals but to society) is to be shared with those who are not having such success. The candidates in the Presidential campaign are iconic examples of each side - Romney the venture capitalist and Obama, the social justice champion. Each side uses the contrast as their strategy to woo the public to their side.

The recent movie "2016" is an attempt to explain to the public where Obama's social justice world view (mental model) originated. The main theme is how Obama developed an anti-colonialism view from third world countries occupied and "exploited" by wealthy nations of Europe. Obama believes that American colonialism (a form of venture capitalist) uses its wealth to oppress and suppress the unfortunate who are powerless against such aggression (the rich get richer at expense of poor). Thus, Obama is dedicated his life to protecting those who are "victims" of wealth creators. Of course, pro colonialists believe that the result of investment and wealth creation raises the standard of living for all peeps within the community which is the target of the colonialists' (capitalists') investments.

For Christians, this can be an interesting challenge. Polls show a majority of evangelicals favor Romney and conservative views that government is not the provider of work and wealth, but free markets are. These peeps cling to the founding father's view of limited government and Judeo-Christian work ethic.  However, liberals point to the greed and injustice that results from free (unregulated) peeps duking it out in the market. After all, economist Milton Friedman acknowledged that greed is what drives free markets. So, if capitalism is carnally minded, based on social exchange, how is it that the Kingdom mind reconciles itself to the market system.

We know that Scripture tells us that God honors work and its a "good" thing for us to do. But seldom do we stop and consider God's view of work along with the wealth we create through our work. How does God view competition, winning and the material prosperity we desire (seek) that flows from success at work?

It may not be easy to find God's view on His desire for our material prosperity while there are many places Scripture reminds us that God's purpose for us is to live by faith, not by becoming self-sufficient in this world. "Do not store up treasures on earth." Does looking at ourselves from God's view point present to us a dilemma?

Peeps ask, "does God favor Tim Tebow when he competes in football?" and "is God on Chick-fil-a's side?" To what degree is it difficult for evangelicals to defend to liberals that competition and capitalism is Godly when faith, not greed and self sufficiency, is God's call on our lives and God's glory is our ambition?

We find in the Book of Daniel that God provided Daniel and his buds everything they needed to win in their difficult competitive circumstances. God gave them insight and wisdom to impress the King and win his favor. So it's not beyond God to want us to win (sometimes). But we must look further into Daniel and see that he purposed in his own heart to not be contaminated by the godless culture of Babylon. While God desired and enabled Daniel to win, Daniel's focus of winning was not for his own personal benefit but for God's purposes with His people.

So, as evangelicals campaign and vote for personal responsibility and free market opportunities to work and succeed (shouting "we did build it"), we must remember that the material prosperity that comes to us from our work is not the point. God ordained government for protection and civil order,and the church for mercy and compassion. We should see our wealth as God's grace, a gift to freely share with others in need and not to build our own self-sufficiency. Its this message of the evangelicals that liberals are missing. Maybe because we miss it sometimes too!!

Just something to ponder ......