Is there a moral dimension to money and how we use it? Many objective capitalists will say that money is only a tool to be used to make more money, but most religions would argue otherwise. The 10% tithe, for example, was a tool of equity that, in theory, was to be used by religious leaders to help people who are struggling, and Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic, giving dire warnings to the rich. Their chance of getting to heaven was slim, He said, because they use their wealth and power in corrupt ways. “The love of money (idolatry) is the root of all kinds of evil.” we are told by the writer of 1 Timothy; it leads us to covet and not be connected to God.
I still won’t buy Chik-fil-A, and not just because it isn’t very good. Their historically anti-LGBTQ stance (still unresolved) goes against my sense of morality. Many companies, like Ben & Jerry’s and Bomba’s socks, focus on the good they are doing with the money they make. Businesses know that we want our hard-earned money to go to companies who care, even if they only trot out their rainbow flags during Pride month. I can still remember boycotting Exxon for decades after the crash of the Valdez nearly destroyed pristine Alaskan land and water. And many Americans want to dismantle public education, believing it is teaching immoral ideas (like equity, diversity, and inclusion) to their children. Money has power.
Federal and State budgets are hotbeds for the morality of money, because none of us wants our taxes spent on items that we believe to be immoral. I get this, but I also see just how dangerous this kind of manipulation can be. If a person hates a certain group of people, they try to make sure that group doesn’t get funding. And since there is nothing that we can agree on as morally right, we continue to argue about the use of our money. Even feeding hungry children in schools is under fire, with many states – and Pres. Trump – deciding to freeze or cut those budgets. It feels like hungry kids should matter to all of us, but your morality isn’t mine.
I honestly have no answer here, just continuing questions: is there a moral dimension to money? How do we find a place in the middle? When do we decide to give in or see the value of other people’s perspectives? Until we can, we will continue to spiral into a cesspool of immoral debate, trying to figure out how many angels dance on the head of a pin. Let’s just hope the death toll can be kept to a minimum.
Prayer – Holy God, You have given us a lot of freedom in believing what is right or wrong. May that freedom clue us into what You want, and not what we want. Amen.
Today’s art is “Hungry Child” by Alex Saska.