Wealth and Liberty

  It is commonly held that with wealth comes liberty.  I mean liberty or freedom in the classical sense: not so much the existence of choices but the removal of barriers that hinder one's goals.  One can easily imagine that a little more money, a slightly more secure situation, a larger pool of resources could open many doors that currently remain shut.  The doors might not be that obvious.  A liberal education is not cheap.  Certain social circles are hard to break into without the experiences that come with wealth.  Time comes at a price when one lives from paycheck to paycheck.  Philosophers will deny all this, but philosophers have generally come from privileged classes.
  Yet wealth comes with its own chains and burdens.
One must increase wealth to keep wealth.  It is not a static entity.  Wealth requires its keeper to be constantly vigilant to thwart its ever more cunning escape plans.  There is also the fact that it is never quite delivers what it promises.  It is never enough.  There is always more comfort, more freedom, to secure.  Wealth possesses the one who has wealth (be it ever so little) and becomes the master.  Far from being a means to freedom and liberty, wealth is a secret tyrant and slave master.
     When one makes wealth the means of liberty, and thus an agent of good, one implicitly makes poverty an agent of evil.  Man's problem becomes a problem of want.  Because it is obvious that everyone cannot have everything, mankind is thrown into competition with himself.  A wealthy man becomes the enemy of Everyman.  In such a world there must be constant warfare and class struggle.  There can be no peace.
  Jesus strikes the common misconception (the common idolatry) at its root:  "Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."  [Matt. 19:23,24].  In answer to the disciples astonishment he explains why:  "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God?"  [Mark 10:24].  That Jesus is not speaking in rhetorical hyperbole is made evident by his answer to his disciples regarding who may be saved:  "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."  [Matt. 19:26].  Here is the impossibility and the possibility, destruction and salvation, law and gospel.
  Wealth is not fit to give liberty because evil takes no notice whether one has or has not.  Wealth may change the circumstances of evil, but it can not free one from evil.  Man's problem is not a problem of want, not material, not physical, nor mental, nor even emotional.  What mankind lacks is rectitude; he lacks righteousness and holiness.  Man's problem is rebellion and guilt.  These are not problems wealth can solve.  Sin is not a burden money can remove.  True liberty cannot be bought by such means.  True liberty comes from Christ alone:  "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  [John 8:31,32; continue with the rest of the paragraph].  "I am the way, the truth, and the life."  [John 14:6].  True liberty is freedom from the dominion and burden of sin; liberty is the freedom to truly glorify God, and enjoy him forever.