What about Greed?

Many will argue, in response to my last blog post, “Which is More Biblical, Capitalism or Socialism?” that a capitalist economic system promotes greed. Not really. Socialism and Communism, indeed all government systems are corrupted by greed. And that’s not because of the systems, but because of the sinful, fallen, greedy people that run them. If we the people were perfectly benevolent, any economic system would work marvelously. What capitalism does that is unique among economic systems is to recognize greed, and to “harness” it, if you will.


If the “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25:14-30 is indeed Biblical support of capitalism, then the parable that follows immediately afterward, “The Sheep and the Goats,” gives capitalism a purpose and combats greed. In the parable, Jesus comes in glory with all his angels, gathers all of the nations before him, “separate[s] them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (HCSB, Mt 25:32) He then rewards the “sheep” with eternal life, and damns the “goats” with eternal fire.

What is the criteria upon which Jesus makes this judgment? Whether the individual has fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, took in the stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited the prisoner. The “sheep” has done these things to the least of the brothers of Jesus, and thereby has done them directly for Jesus himself. The “goats” did not do these things, and thereby did not do them for Jesus.

In the “Parable of the Talents,” Jesus rewarded the productive servant for his stewardship and faithfulness in investing his treasure and making more. In the “Parable of the Sheep and Goats,” Jesus defines what faithfulness and stewardship mean: using those earned resources to take care of the less fortunate around us. This is not a function the Bible grants to government; it is the duty of each and every individual who is blessed with talents and resources from God.

How about us?  Are we using the talents and treasure God has given us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the homeless? Or are we trusting the government to do our job for us?