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09/21/2003 Entry: "Wesley on wealth #1"

Each day this week I'm going to post something from the writings of John Wesley on the subject of a Christian understanding of wealth. I'm not doing this because I think Wesley is infallible (O no!) but because I think he has a contribution to make to some of the conversations I've been involved in lately.

We'll begin with a couple of extracts which reveal what Wesley meant by riches.

From On the danger of increasing riches

"A person of note, hearing a sermon preached upon this subject several years since, between surprise and indignation broke out aloud, "Why does he talk about riches here? There is no rich man at Whitehaven, but Sir James L----r." And it is true there was none but he that had forty thousand pounds a year, and some millions in ready money. But a man may be rich that has not a hundred a year, nor even one thousand pounds in cash. Whosoever has food to eat, and raiment to put on, with something over, is rich."

From The Wisdom of God's Counsels

"By riches I mean, not thousands of pounds, but any more than will procure the conveniences of life. Thus I account him a rich man who has food and raiment for himself and family, without running into debt, and something over. And how few are there in these circumstances who are not hurt, if not destroyed, thereby? Yet who takes warning?"