The Camel and the Needle's EyePonsonby, Arthur Ponsonby, Baron
Philosophy
The Camel and the Needle's Eye
Ponsonby, Arthur Ponsonby, Baron
Wealth; Wealth -- Moral and ethical aspects
And of course other instances could be quoted, but the main body of the
Church shows no disposition to follow. They are bound to the governing
classes, and the governing classes have the money and therefore the
power such as it is.
The Free Churches on the whole are bolder, for they deal with a
simpler class. But neither do they tirelessly condemn money-hunting,
because, being poor themselves, they are far too dependent on the large
subscriptions of the richer members of their congregations. But not
even by building chapels can a rich man justify himself, though he may
be blessed as a benefactor by his co-religionists.
The Roman Catholics too, who anyhow in their churches do not give any
special privileges to rank, have their tongues tied by the lavish
donations of rich and noble patrons which they are only too glad to
receive. To emphasise the Christian condemnation of the rich man would
therefore not be politic or in accordance with what they conceive to be
their best interests.
It is not as if Christians of all sects and denominations could not
discover texts and arguments enough in their Bibles to support them
were they to alter this course and advance courageously along the
straight way. The best words ever uttered on the evil and folly of
riches are to be found in its pages in the Old Testament as well as the
New. A collection of these sayings would form the strongest indictment
of wealth that could be framed.
There is the great Proverb, “A good name is rather to be sought than
great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Or the
passage from Job, “Though he heap up silver as the dust and prepare
raiment as the day, he may prepare it, but the just shall put it on
and the innocent shall divide the silver,” and “Will he esteem thy
riches? No, not gold nor all the forces of strength.” Or the Psalmist’s
warning, “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Or the
words of Ecclesiastes, “There is a sore evil which I have seen under
the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.”
But we must resist the temptation of making a collection of quotations
here. The declarations of this truth are well known, even though they
may not be accepted or appreciated. The truth about money may still be
looked upon as impracticable Utopianism; one day it may be discovered
to be sound economics. The practice of restraint and renunciation is
not only theoretically sound, but both subjectively and objectively
expedient.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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