The saddest part about some of the loudest rantings that we hear is that Jesus is dragged into it and portrayed as some kind of socialist. But nothing could be further from the truth. God’s Word is always clear about issues that pertain to life on this earth. When we look to it we find that there are some immutable truths that we can apply to our lives.
Jesus pointed out in several Gospel accounts that we’re always going to have poor people on earth. For instance, in Matthew 26:11 He put it this way: “For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.” Whether we like it or not, poverty is a result of man’s rejection of God. So no matter how hard we try, no matter how loud we scream and shout, we’re still going to have poor people. Government has spent trillions of dollars over the last 50 years and all they’ve done is made the problem worse, not better. Government can’t fix the problem, only God can.
God’s Word also teaches us to be content with the things we have (1 Timothy 6:8). This is important. Because if we never learn to be content with the things we have, we’ll never be thankful to God. Instead we’ll find ourselves always complaining that we don’t have what the other person has and then we’ll convince ourselves that this is somehow unfair. But that’s just a trick of this fallen world system. It always wants more and will never have enough.
That was Lucifer’s problem. He was probably the most beautiful thing God ever created. He was there with God in heaven. Yet it wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to sit on God’s throne. He even convinced himself that he could somehow defeat God and steal that throne (Isaiah 14:12-14). And what did it get him? Simple: hell (Isaiah 14:15).
Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Instead of worshipping God and giving Him thanks for what He’s blessed us with, we turn our thoughts and our desires to having more and more things. It’s shameful, and that’s why people’s opinions have completely soured on the “Occupy” protests. People instinctively recognize that all we’re really looking at is a large group of selfish, pampered crybabies who think they deserve to have everything that others have worked for. There’s a simple multi-step solution to their problem.
First, get a job. There are a lot of jobs available for people who want to work. But that’s another part of the “protesters” problem. They all want to be the CEO of some company without working their way into it. They need to heed the teaching of God’s Word: “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Take the work that’s available, make the best of it, build a good reputation as a diligent employee and rest assured that you’ll be looked upon favorably by your employer.
Second, stop looking to government for handouts and start looking to God! Anything the government can give to you has to be taken from someone else. Is that fair? Why should I have to work long and hard to provide for my family only to see government step in and steal money from me to give it to you just because you don’t want to work for it? How is that fair? Yet God will meet the needs of anyone who turns from their sins and puts their faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus even said as much in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:24-33).
Third, as mentioned above, learn to be content with the things that you already have (Hebrews 13:5). One of the most destructive attitudes is to always be desiring the things you don’t have. Politicians are notorious for feeding this destructive type of thinking, trying to convince people that they should have the things that others have worked for. Instead at looking at people who have things you don’t have, why don’t you look at the people who don’t have the many things you do have? Not only would this be easier on your mind, it may even lead you to be thankful to God for things you have. It may also cause you to be concerned about others rather than yourself. Which attitude do you think would be more pleasing to God?
Fourth, be careful that you don’t end up with a reprobate mind. That’s the danger the Apostle Paul warns of in Romans 1. In verse 21 he states, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” He’s talking about people who knew that God exists, but instead of seeking Him and being thankful to Him for what He had given them, they just forgot about Him. As a result, they were sucked into the darkness of this world and its ways.
Unless they changed their behavior this would ultimately lead to what Paul describes in Romans 1:28-32: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Read those verses and you can’t help but see that this is being played out before our eyes right here in America and around the world. Politicians in both parties are creating this mindset by playing one group of people against another. This isn’t just wrong and immoral, it’s an affront against Almighty God.
Finally, learn to follow the instruction that Paul gave to the Thessalonians almost 2,000 years ago as his words are timeless:
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-24)