Would Jesus Spread the Wealth Around?

Should government spread the wealth around? In other words, should the government take from those who have more to give to those who have less?

Does Jesus have anything to say about this by giving us an example to look at in the Bible? Yes! The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 gives us many points to think about concerning this issue. I implore you to read this parable right now.

Jesus would spread the wealth around, but not in the way you might think.

Jesus taught about His way of “redistributing wealth”. Matthew 25:14-18 says, “14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

First, I want to point out the fact that the master does not entrust each servant with an equal amount of his property. One servant received five talents of money, one servant received two talents of money, and the other servant received one talent of money. Although the servants were not given equal amounts of money, they were given the same opportunity to increase the owner’s property under their stewardship. Jesus does not expect everyone to have equal amounts, just equal opportunity.

How did the servants with five and two talents do with the master’s money?

The man who received the five talents gained five more. The man who received two talents gained two more. To each of them, the master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” Jesus only gives more things to His servants who have been good stewards of a few things.

How did the servant with one talent do with the master’s money?

The man who received one talent came to his master and said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”

How did the master, who represents Jesus in this parable, respond to his servant who brought no increase with his talent of money?

Did the master extend him mercy and grace? Did the master feel sorry for him? Did he take talents of money from the servant who had earned the most and give some to him? The answer is no to all of these questions.

In fact, the master dealt harshly with the servant who did not steward his talent of money well and take advantage of his opportunity to bring increase. His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Yes—Jesus does spread the wealth around. However, He does it in a way that is contrary to many of the tax policies proposed today. Like a wise businessman, he gives more to those who have proven themselves to be good stewards. Instead of taking from the productive servant to give to the unproductive servant, he does the opposite.

Jesus “redistributes wealth”! To those who work hard and take advantage of opportunities to bring increase Jesus gives them more. To those who are poor stewards and don’t work hard or take advantage of their opportunities to bring increase get less. They get their talents of money taken away and their “wealth” is given to the better stewards.

Our government should receive taxes so they can administer justice by protecting law abiding citizens and punishing criminals. They should not receive taxes to spread the wealth around.

Taxes are for vital services to its citizens not wealth redistribution.