The Lord's Economic Plan

What is the Lord's economic and social plan?

Let's take a look at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30- What can we learn from it? First the Lord says that “the kingdom of heaven is…” like the parable of the talents. Just this tells us that socialism is contrary to the law of the Lord. The master did not give to the servants equally nor did he give to them according to their need, but he gave to them their stewardship according to their ability “unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability…” Notice they were not treated equally nor were their needs considered- only their abilities.

Next what did the master expect of these servants (to get gain). The servant that gained 5 and the servant that gained 2 additional talents were told- "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Notice that it did not matter that one earned 5 and the other earned 2, they both got to enter into the joy of Lord, so it isn't important that one earned more than the other- only that they were both productive and gained an increase with their stewardship.

Finally the unprofitable servant was the one who had been given one talent and instead of working to gain more, "...he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money." He did not work to get gain and as a result did not get to enter into the joy of the Lord. His talent was taken from and given to him that had the most, and the unprofitable servant was "cast ... into outer darkness: [where] there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Where does a person's needs and other's compassion come in with the Lord's economic order? Before we review that, let's first look at how salvation is obtained- One works out his individual salvation between himself and the Lord. Salvation is not a communal activity. You can't save a family member, friend or neighbor. In Paul's letter to the Philippian saints he said "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12). In the end it is about each individual's personal righteousness, repentance, and relationship with the Lord.

But what about when people are struggling and NEED help? This is not a contradiction to the Lord's economic plan or plan of salvation. Again in Mathew 25:35-36 "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." That is what ministering to the needy is about, but as vitally important these things are (note that those who do not do these things are sent to everlasting punishment Mathew 25:46) these ministrations do not save the person in need, but helps them get through challenging times so that they can stand again on their own to work out their own salvation spiritually and financially.