Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24 NIV).
I
have heard recently of a businessman who has become very successful.
He has several homes and all the material goods required to make his
life overflowing with possessions. Yet this same businessman rails
at the fact that he wishes to hire people at $9.00 an hour, yet finds
them reluctant to work at this less than living wage. He has come to
see his own wealth as completely justified, while sharing it with
other essential producers of wealth would be an outrage.
In
my view it is clear that capitalism's tendency to filter wealth to
the relatively few is hurtful to everybody, most especially those who
acquire it. What is the mechanism that helps generate such
callousness?
I
know the man referred to and am aware that he was raised in a home
where the Christian values of sharing and generosity were taught and
demonstrated. Fundamentally, I know he appreciates that selfishness
and greed are not good. Thus, on a primary level, his view of
personal wealth is conflicted and disturbing to him. A state of
denial as a defense thus comes into play. An “I earned every
penny” psychological stance and a “circle the wagons” mentality
serve to rationalize, justify, and legitimize his disproportionate
earnings to himself and others whose complicity with this fiction he
anxiously yearns for. In other words, feeling that his position is
assailable and indefensible, he seeks and finds psychological defense
and resolution in an ideological stance that would enshrine
selfishness and greed within a shroud of rectitude. Capitalism as an
ideology is shared by other devotees who similarly seek to justify
basic unfairness and greed and earnestly seek solace from like-minded
friends. Natural allies in this fiction are wealthy investors,
professionals, and those of inheritance. They come to fancy
themselves as the primary wealth creators. A key motto of this
religion is “life is unfair, get used to it.” In other words,
justice and fairness are not to be actively pursued or even thought
about and the status quo, however remote from the kingdom of
God, is to be accepted.
Print Page
