RICH AND POOR IN THE CHURCH

   "A rich man will hardly enter the kingdom of God" (Mt.19.23-24); However, speaking of those who said these words, the apostle Paul said that "for your sakes he became poor, being rich, so that by his poverty you might be made rich" (2 Co.8: 9). Our Savior therefore wants us to be rich "so that we may conduct ourselves honestly to those from without, and we need nothing" (1 Thessalonians 4:12); it is more, "that we may share with him that is in need" (Eph.4.28).

   What is condemned in the Holy Scriptures is the attitude of the indolent bourgeoisie of those who think that with money you can buy absolutely everything. To them it is said to them: "For thou sayest, I am rich, and I have grown rich, and have need of nothing; and you do not know that you are a wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Therefore I advise you to buy of me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white robes to dress, and that the shame of your nakedness should not be discovered; and anoint your eyes with eye drops, that you may see. I rebuke and punish all whom I love; be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev.3.17-19).

   There is a principle of socio-economic equality in the Kingdom of God (existing among us in its present stage of development) that can fulfill the expectations of social justice among God's people. This doctrinal principle is clearly stated in 2 Co.8: 13-15: "For I do not say this so that there may be some slackness for others, and for you narrowness, but that in this time, with equality, your abundance supply the shortage of them , so that the abundance of them may supply your need, so that there may be equality, as it is written: He who gathered much, had no more, and he that had little, had not less.

   With this, our Creator Father wants us to have sufficient food for all in his "house", which we are (Mal.3.10; He.3.6), and not only for those who serve. This food not only translates into money or food but into all the common good we need as human beings. Christians who are accountable to Christ's judgment (Ro.14.10; 2 Co.5.10) must be responsible for managing the talents that were given to us, trying not to be conniving with anyone in the world. indecent or inappropriate handling of them, since we should not be accomplices of the darkness or participate in other people's sins (Eph. 5: 1, 1-Ti.5.22).