Neither Poverty Nor Riches: a Few Quotes

From the book Neither Poverty Nor Riches by Craig L. Blomberg:

• “The wealth of the patriarchs must therefore be understood within its clear covenantal context. This wealth is tied directly to God’s plan to give his people a special land. In the Christian era, in which believers do not live in a uniquely promised land, we must take care not to assume that wealth necessarily, or even frequently, represents God’s blessing.” (36)

• “No command issued to Old Testament followers of Yahweh necessarily carries over into the Christian era unchanged, but every command reflects principles at some level that are binding on Christians.” (39)

• “So, without necessarily calling into question the wisdom of modern distinctions between legal and illegal aliens for legislative purposes, it would seem unconscionable that any Christian should ever support efforts to withhold basic human services from the neediest in any land, regardless of their country of origin.” (48)

• “Wealth can be a sign of God’s blessing, even if it is not always related to an individual’s or a nation’s obedience. But the unique covenant arrangements between God and Israel prevent us from generalizing and saying that god must materially reward his faithful people in other nations or eras.” (51)

• “In passing, this text shows that ‘the lending of money was itself no evil; better that a man should be in debt than that he should have to beg his bread. Nehemiah shows no remorse for having been a money lender’. Instead, he focuses on the usury.” (54-5)

• “God may have made a unique arrangement with the people of Israel to bless them materially in response to their covenant faithfulness, but he calls all people to care for the needy, seek justice and use their wealth compassionately.” (71)