Thoughts and Gleanings

CAPITALISM, GOD’S NATURAL ORDER
by Ralph Beall
     Man created in the image of God s able to reason, feel, and choose, hence he is responsible. God is eternal and perfect in every attribute; all knowing, all powerful, unchanging. Every principle of God is true and unchangeable. He is the source of all truth both in the physical and spiritual realms. Any truth is sso because God made it so. Truth is logical and reasonable, hence man, to know and understand truth, must use his God given ability to learn and reason to arrive at true conclusions and to act wisely thereon. God’s word, the Bible, is truth (John 8:32, 17:17). God’s word is righteousness (Psalm 119:144, 151, 172). “-(H)e that doeth righteousness is righteous, -- (I John 3:7).”
     God created man and the earth as the habitation for man and commanded him to reproduce and subdue and have dominion over it (stewardship, property ownership) (Genesis 1:26-31, 9:1-7; Isaiah 45:18). On expulsion from the garden of Eden survival created a physical need the supply of which God has made available to the responsible man in this physical world (demand/need and supply/product). Adam was a businessman (producer) immediately on his expulsion from the garden or he and Eve starved and as his offspring multiplied business and commerce increased. The Israelites operated in a free economy; they owned and controlled the land given them by God and the production there from (Joshua). Ananias and Sapphira owned the property they sold and the monies received. They had the right to give all, none, or any part for the relief of the needy Christians in Jerusalem.  They were struck dead because they lied to God (Acts 4:32-5:11).
     Applied knowledge (intellect, education), applied time (ability and labor), equals production (product, value). The accumulation of capital (that necessary to procure the raw materials [elements of this universe}, tools, equipment, real estate, and personnel [workers, managers] needed to produce a needed/desired product or service) is necessary for the maintenance and growth of production9 business/commerce). Profits (return on capital investment above costs of production and marketing of a product or service) are necessary for this accumulation and the primary incentive for capital investment (risk of capital/savings). Over time population growth is inevitable (or so history indicates), hence an increase in demand creating the need for additional capital in order to increase production to supply the demand.
      Only production (applied time and knowledge to the elements of this universe [raw materials]) creates value (profits/wealth). Profitable production requires man, knowledge, knowledge, time, tools, and materials, and a needed or desired service or product (Ecclesiastes 5:9). Notice in the preceding reference Solomon, inspired of God, states that “the profit of the earth is for all”. All men are responsible, to the extent possible, to produce to supply their needs (I Thessalonians 4:11-12, II Thessalonians 3:10-12, I Timothy 5:13, II Corinthians 8:21, Colossians 4:1-5). All men consume; all responsible men produce. Indeed, the fruits of man’s labor belong to him (Ecclesiastes %:18-19). Woe to the man who take them from him (James 5:1-5). 
     Barter (trading, value for value) being a very inefficient and cumbersome method of commerce gave rise to monetary systems. Money functions as a store of value, a measure of value, and a medium of exchange. It represents the received value of a product or service of the owner/possessor thereof or the received value of a product or service of some other person or persons. Money …..