The Schemes of Man
Money is the root of all kinds of evil, and money positions itself in opposition to God…for service and worship. The simplicity of a pilgrim’s lifestyle is merely food, clothing, and contentment.
The lust of the eyes generates greed, envy, and covetousness. The lust of the flesh soon takes action. The world entices, “You have to play to win.” This is true for the lottery, the casino, the financial markets, and insurance. Each of these schemes of man makes the promise for the possibility of gaining and holding onto more of the world.
“This could change your life!” is the implicit, if not explicit, promise from men. Building improbable hope is the snare, set to trap as many people as possible. The result is the mass of humanity living by chance, or spending all their money on chance reduction.
“If you buy life insurance when you are younger, it will be cheaper.” Really? so you mean I can give more of my money to the pool, over a longer period of time, and I will benefit from that? How much of your life are you willing to give away, in order to preserve your life, or for the long shot possibility of having a life.
There are very few who pass, on the offers of the world, to gain the possibility of more of this place. What is the alternative to the schemes of man, promising you the opportunity to gain the whole world? The alternative is a life of self-denial. It is forsaking the schemes of man, in order to trust the promises of God.
The rich, whether they be governments or corporations, love to entice us to play games with the money we steward, “If you, and you, and you, and you will give me some of your money, then I can create a scheme that generates a chance for you to receive a benefit.” Of course, in the small print of the scheme, there is no promise that you will be the lucky one. In fact, the probability is, you just parted with your money for, “peace of mind,” or “excitement,” or “fun.”
To protest the schemes of man is very anti-world. The world never enjoys being exposed for being a house of cards or a legalized Ponzi scheme. Almost everyone participates in the schemes, if they have any money at their disposal — and dispose of money is exactly what happens in most cases.
Fortunately, or should we say, providentially, God has given His people something better than insurance, investments, gambling, and other schemes concocted by the world. Christians are instructed by Jesus, to take the mammon of unrighteousness, and invest it in the kingdom of God, so to store up one’s treasure in heaven (Mt 6:19–20).
Every time a believer in Jesus denies himself the second coat or pair of shoes, she has more money to invest in kingdom work, that is, helping others to enter the pilgrim’s lifestyle on the journey to the better country, heavenly Zion.
As one grows in grace and knowledge of God in Christ, he is more united to the cause of the kingdom, which is for God’s people to find, and secure, the yet unregenerate elect of God (2 Tim 2:10). Loving one’s neighbor is not a matter of storing up treasure in a government or corporate pool of money, rather, it is seeing your brother in need and helping him (1 Jn 3:16–17). This naturally produces an equality (2 Cor 8:13–15) that the communists can only dream about. Unlike the forced economic equality of socialism, forever lacking in love, the Christian economy is motivated by love. This love has faith in God’s gracious provision, for those who love Him and who are called according to His purposes.
The next time you see your brother in need, remember, he is your sign, offering you a better retirement (Lk 16:9), than the sign luring you to invest in the corrupt schemes of man.
David Norczyk
Hillsboro, Oregon
August 2, 2021
