Chasing Wind – Capitalism Run Amok – Part 2

And I saw that all labor and all achievement
spring from man’s envy of his neighbor.
This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I want to be rich! Ever had that thought?

I have.

But why?

The verse above offers an intriguing and thought-provoking explanation. The explanation is not completely true, because, after all, a man’s gotta eat. But normally we aren’t satisfied with just putting a roof over our heads and bread on the table, now are we?

We want more than that, much more. We want “the good life.”

And that life is usually defined by how many possessions we are able to accumulate. Proof of capitalistic success is always measured in this way. And since the measuring rod is accumulation and consumption, we strive to do so at ever increasing levels.

Enough is never enough.

Greed becomes good.

Envy becomes a positive motivational force.

And all that whipped up into a frenzy becomes, as I am fond of saying, “capitalism run amok.”

Nowhere in the bible is envy considered a virtue and I don’t believe the verse above signifies that envy is “proper motivation.”

Another word for envy is “covetousness.”

Exodus 20:17 states that “you shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

That happens to be the 10th commandment.

Hmmm, let’s evaluate this for a moment. Solomon says that “all achievement” (which I really take to mean a “lust” for achievement and more possessions than one really needs) is motivated by envy, or covetousness. The 10th commandment forbids covetousness.

Does that mean that the very root of capitalistic excess is contrary to God’s will?

But freedom always carries with it responsibility. Is “capitalism run amok” responsible? I don’t think so. I think it’s driven or motivated exactly as Solomon describes in Ecclesiastes. I think it’s motivated by the covetousness expressly forbidden in the 10th commandment.

And where has it taken us? Well in 2008, to the brink of ruin…that’s where.

Now is a great time of examination. Now is a great time for us to step back as a society and take a hard look at who we have become. Now is a great time to exchange the capitalism run amok that has gotten our society into quite a mess for a different more compassionate brand.

One that cherishes freedom, but also recognizes the responsibility it carries.

One that recognizes when enough is enough.

One that recognizes that the blessings we enjoy should be shared, should be spread around.

One that is less concerned with protection of private property and more concerned with promotion of public prosperity.

Post Update: This was written in 2009 at the time of our nation’s great recession. We made it out of that one. Will we make it out of the next one?

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