Expert: J.M.J. West - 11/6/2008

Question
QUESTION: I  have found that if one trusts in the Lord jesus then our finances are protected. Do all catholics believe and practice this . Do they believe and know that wrong doing will cause financial diaster. Are most catholics aware of this and do the follow this. Thanking you. Looking forward to your urgent reply.

ANSWER: Maria,

Thanks for your question.

No, I seriously doubt that most Catholics trust in the providence of God, though such teaching clearly has a biblical foundation.  Most of the ones who take their faith seriously would have a similar approach, but the majority of Catholics in America at least (and more like the Western World), must like many Christians in general, live a very secular form of their faith.

That said, I don't think that wrong-doing always causes FINANCIAL disaster - for it is a pretty clear truth of human experience that the wicked may profit in this life.  But they will, for their inequity, usually lack true happiness in this life (which even the Pagan's like Cicero and Aristotle knew came from living a moral life), and certainly risk loss of their inheritance in the life to come - i.e. communion with God - for they set themselves against Love Himself by their deeds.

Hope that helps.

Peace of Christ,

-J.M.J. West

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: since I am quite desperate to protect my finances as in India any financial problem could mean destitution , starvation ,sexual exploitation and we could reach dire straits.having gone through a lot of ups and downs in life and after most of my life we have some what become secure which i do not want to loose. so i want to trust in the Lord with all my heart so that such terrible trauma will not come my way again.So is it ok if i take this really seriously even if others do not. Would I be peculiar if i Do.

ANSWER: What I meant with my reply is that many "modern" Catholics are only Catholic in name.  They sadly do not practice what they ought to preach, and so many would not trust God to govern their money in that way.  I was not endorsing that view, but merely answering your question regarding the commonality of such practices.

There is great merit and reason to trust God to govern such aspects of your life - for He governs all aspects of existence!  You may or may not be "peculiar", but don't let peculiarity govern what you do - let adherence to the Lord be your ultimate aim and the rest will fall in place.

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your assistance. Though allegiance to God is the ultimate objective ,for our temporal  needs we need a roof over our heads and food and basic necessities which itself is  a luxury in India being home to a third of the world's poor where many people live on streets and eat a meal once in a way and there is no social security here.In such a case if I depend on the lord in such a way to protect what source of money we have i know I will be safe but is it ok if those who do not trust in the lord and do evil, loose their wealth, but my house alone stands for obeying God when everyone else has lost their's due to evil. would it be okay if I alone manage to retain my money even if all others loose theirs due to ignorance and wrong doing.I would be more than grateful if you could help me in this matter for if I am able to retain my money I could help many of the poor as well as myself.I am very grateful to you.
         Thanking you,          Gratefully,
         Maria

Answer
I'm sorry, I don't fully understand what you're asking me.

You are permitted to have money.  You are permitted to - in general - spend it as you like.  You are commended for using your resources to help others, for that is to be our life in this world.  

- - - - -
Matthew 25:

"He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'

"And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'

"Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'  He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'  And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
- - - - -

You are permitted to "retain your money", so long as you know that what you do have comes from God and that if you trust him he will provide.  

"Blessed are the poor in spirit" says Christ, "For there's is the kingdom of God".  This means that no matter what wealth we do or do not have, we must be careful not to be unhealthily attached to it.  "The love of money is the root of much evil".

I hope that helps.

If you are asking for particular advice on what to do with your money, you might talk to someone in your area who could help you find avenues that would maximize the positive impact of what you do decide to give.

Does that help?

Peace of Christ,

-J.M.J. West