Money and sex, sex and money – these are two areas of great human interest. How could it be otherwise? Money and sex involve pleasure, complexity, and necessity. Not surprisingly, the Bible has much to say about both sex and money – although some may be startled that it is money that gets the emphasis.

Money in the Bible is connected to God’s concern that people do the right thing, live the right way. It is the New Testament that puts the human psychology of money in perspective: “ . . . the love of money is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:l0).

“The love of money” is a distorted attitude that loves power and things rather than God or other people takes no preacher or advanced Bible student to know that “love of money” is producing much “evil” in our country. At this moment, we all feel the touch of corrupt hands on our investments, bank accounts, and general financial well-being. I am glad to see that strong actions are being taken to condemn and punish the abuses that result from this sad form of “love.”

As an example of how money is used, wages are another great Bible theme. Four Hebrew and two Greek words deal with this Bible aspect of money. Many passages can be summed up by referring to Leviticus l9:l3 or Matthew 20:l-2. The point is always to insist that wages are a matter of applied justice and face-to-face honesty.

Wages remain an issue. What is fair? What is possible? What is livable, appropriate? Society accepts one standard for baseball players, another for dishwashers. The spiritual results of such casualness are noted in at least one classic hymn: “O shame to us who rest content while lust and greed for gain . . . wring gold from human pain and bitter lips in blind despair cry ‘Christ hath died in vain’” (#583; W.R. Bowie, l882-l969).

Honesty, duty, concern for the whole well-being of others are basic to Christian civilization. I think that too much Christian focus has been elsewhere for too long. Indeed, it is going on a century since an American President denounced “malefactors of great wealth.” We need to both re-educate and re-dedicate ourselves: honesty, duty, concern for the whole well-being of others is Biblical, a proper response to Christ.

When I refer to “honesty,” I am not encouraging self-indulgence in saying harsh things in testy moods. Rather, I mean that both corporate business practice and personal behavior in daily life should allow others a reasonable basis for placing trust.

I look forward to my vacation and to the new program year that begins in September. May God continue to guide and bless you.

JEF+