Here in the USA, it’s a presidential election year. While this blog doesn’t focus much on politics, there’s a political phrase that’s been bandied about for a number of years: redistribution of wealth. Many say it has a connection with Christianity including the teachings of Jesus. Really?

Those who say Jesus promoted redistribution of wealth often cite a passage from Mark’s Gospel where Jesus told a rich man to give everything he had to the poor and follow him. The man did not.

If one looks closely at that record it is easy to see the point Jesus was making about trusting in one’s riches. The man in question trusted in his riches; his problem wasn’t his riches, but rather, his trust in those riches.

If Jesus did indeed preach and promote redistribution of wealth, then why didn’t he tell every rich person he encountered to give it all away? For example, he spent time with the wealthy Zacheus, but there’s no record of Jesus telling him to give it all away.

On the other hand, it might be shocking for some to look at a parable Jesus taught where there actually was some redistribution, but certainly not the kind people talk about today! In the parable, the master of the house returns after a long journey to find what his servants did with what he entrusted them with.

Two of the three servants doubled the worth of what they were entrusted with. But the third, for fear of losing it, buried it in the ground, so it would stay safe. The master called the first two servants “good and faithful,” and rewarded them.

But for the servant who buried it, the master called him “wicked and lazy,” and took what was originally given to him, and gave it to the one who had the most! Yes, he gave it to the good and faithful servant who had the most!

Of course the Bible, including the teachings of Jesus, encourage us to give to those in need. Of course it is Christian to help those less fortunate. But there is no biblical teaching about taking all the money away from all the rich people and redistributing it so everyone has the same amount.

Those who promote that kind of redistribution do a great disservice to the less fortunate.

Firstly, they lead poor people to believe all wealthy people are wealthy because they are evil and dishonest. Secondly, instead of offering solutions and assistance that would help them to provide for themselves, the less fortunate are given false hope and persuaded they are entitled to have what they did not work for. Those who make such promises cannot deliver, and in my opinion it is simply shameless pandering for votes.

For some, redistribution of wealth may sound compassionate, but it is so far from being logical, it boggles the mind as to why some buy into it. If all the wealth of the rich was redistributed today, equally to every person, what happens tomorrow to someone who squanders what he was given? Who then shall we label “evil,” so we can take all their money?

Jesus said the poor will always be with us. He never advocated redistribution of wealth as the solution. He simply stated there will always be poor people.

But we can, and we should, to the best of our means, choose to help and give to the less fortunate. I know personally, as do many others, the joy of giving far exceeds the joy of receiving. But there is no joy for me, or for anyone else, when someone takes from me.

That’s not called redistribution of wealth. That’s called stealing.