The Christian view of economics is less concerned with money than it is freedom, justice, and responsibility. The concept of stewardship of private property and using resources responsibly to glorify God is more noble than the notion of a society in which common ownership destroys individual responsibility and work incentives.

The idea of stewardship (literally "house rule") says that men are stewards who do not own the house, but work for the owner and are given authority to manage the house. Economics, therefore, has to do with managing resources that ultimately belong to God. God holds us accountable for how we manage the world He has entrusted to us.

Economics touches heavily upon ethics. Every economic decision is based on a policy that embraces ethics. The Bible is not a technical textbook on economics, but that is not to say that the Bible does not speak to economic issues. While the Bible has much to say about money, its focus is on the underlying ethical principles that govern its use.

Christians begin the discussion of ethics with two presuppositions- man is fallen and sinful and God is a lover of Justice. The most desirable economic system for the Christian is one that promotes justice by protecting the rights of men from partiality. Other systems emphasize equality which strips man of his differences in talents, drive, and dedication to work. The Biblical model respects divinely ordained spiritual and physical differences among men, and promotes a diversity of intellectual, social, economic and spiritual attainment. The Christian is more interested in a system that protects human rights than one that promises equality by redistributing wealth.

The Christian believes that free enterprise is more compatible with Biblical precepts because the system grants man a measure of freedom in his choices regarding consumption and production. Justice demands that man be free from state coercion in order to use his time, talents with integrity and to God's glory. The Bible encourages hard work and just recompense for the same. In the real world we find that a free enterprise system creates more wealth than socialist or totalitarian systems.

Four Biblical principles attain in this discussion:

1. Private property ownership is sanctioned and encouraged in the scriptures. In practical terms, the imperatives not to steal or covet presuppose ownership rights. Systems that check injustice and promote responsibility can allow men to glorify god. This is the important end of economic theory. God gives increase.

2. Equity- The Bible reduces the essence of godly behavior to justice and mercy. The Bible refuses to pit one against the other. We are to work for both. Our responsibility toward economic matters will allow us to reap what we sow. Socialism seeks to eliminate the idea of impartiality and replace it with enforced equality. To forcibly take form one man and give to another shows neither justice or compassion.

3. Industry-God is a working God. So too are we to labor to fulfill the mandate to exercise dominion in our world. According to the Bible, we are to participate in the ownership of what we produce; we are called to be productive. We are called to multiply resources.

4. Compassion -For those who lack the ability to be productive, we are called to exercise compassion. God has a special concern for the poor. The bible also warns men from making the acquisition of wealth the supreme goal of life. Materialism is sin. Covetousness and greed are as well.

On the other hand, God is concerned with our physical well being. It is a false spirituality that demands a vow of poverty or denies the blessings of just recompense or the fruits of labor. In fact God calls us to be hilarious givers in accordance with his purposes and plans in the world. And while God owns all our time and other resources, He encourages us to deliberately and graciously give a proportion of what He makes us stewards of to his Kingdom purposes.

The idea is that freedom to pursue fulfillment through understanding man's role in God's scheme can also open to door as a by product to economic benefits, but not necessarily. Philippians 4:12-13 explains that Christ, not the attainment of ease, comfort and pleasure, are the rationale for the Christian.

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."