I hear this scripture being used a lot these days but I wanted to discuss how this applies in ways that most people haven’t considered or pointed out.

One way in which this happens is people advocate their morality to letting the free market of capitalism determine what is right or wrong morally.

(Quick disclaimer: This post is not discussing whether capitalism or any other economic system is right or wrong just that god expects us to determine morality based on his laws and not on economic principles:)

I’ve heard more of a few people advocating for evil practices saying that it is actually good because it’s what is good for capitalism or that it’s what capitalism demands so is therefore by default morally good

The following numbered things are examples of what I've seen

1. The market determines what people “should” be paid.

This is an abdication of personal responsibility. Bosses and corporations determine what people should be paid. The market determines what is the lowest amount you can get away with before you will start losing workers. Many times this lowest amount is what keeps people barely alive and often not even that.

Remember that in “A Christmas Carol” Scrooge was paying his employee Bob Crachit market level wages. (good for the economy) But was still going to hell (bad for morality)

The story written by Charles Dickens was obviously inspired by the story of Lazarus and the rich man. (Luke 16)

I've had friends tell me that it's good business and good government to pay employees as little as possible

If employers and bosses are truly to be following the gospel and what is good for society then they will follow

Alma 1:30

"And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need."

If those above truly don’t have their hearts set on riches then the can be more liberal to all, especially their employees

2. Riches are given to the worthy and those who are favored by God

This is often called the Gospel of Prosperity and is a sham based on lies

People who are poor are lazy and thus deserve their fate is something I hear from people a lot.

I had one person tell me that capitalism is the way of God judging who deserves riches and those who don’t. I asked him if he had ever read the New Testament as he obviously didn’t understand Jesus at all.

Mosiah 4 in the Book of Mormon specifically talks about this:

"And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just

But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God."

According to King Benjamin, if you do this you are going to hell just like Scrooge and the rich man in the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

Another thing that is most interesting to me about the story of Lazarus is that in the story Lazarus is named and the rich man is left without a name. It’s a reversal of what happens in society. Lazarus is given a name (the name of his friend) to show value by Jesus to show that his value is not less and that the rich person’s value is not more.

The amount of reverence that I hear towards rich people (like Elon Musk or other who have a weird cult-like following) is just weird to me. Tolkien causes this need to hoard wealth dragon sickness. In the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings the need to hoard wealth is seen as one of the greatest evils.

Reverencing the rich to me is like reverencing who has the biggest case of dragon sickness. It’s something to be pitied not envied.

3. Greed for a lack of a better word is good

This line was immortalized by Gordan Gecko in the movie “Wall Street”. I hear it and variations of it from religious people all the time and yet Jesus many times specifically says that this is not the case.

Matthew 6

19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal

Original post on Facebook March 5, 2024

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