What About the Profit Motive 

Every so often you will hear pastors, theologians, or politicians claim that capitalism is the economic system that is God-sanctioned. In Economics 101 you're taught that the basis for capitalism is the profit motive--that is maximizing profit while minimizing expenses. And while it’s generally true that this system produces the most and greatest variety of goods at the lowest cost, this does not mean that capitalism is inherently moral. By itself it is morally bankrupt because it is driven by and feeds on selfish motives, and if left unchecked, results in greed, exploitation, and eternal self-destruction. In this word of God James turns slightly aside from addressing his fellow-Christian readers, whom he's been referring to as his brothers (and sisters), and aims a Spirit-inspired warning shot across the bow of a specific segment of the population-whether they claim to be Christians or not. He writes, "Come now, you who are rich..."