The ethical teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and Paul of Tarsus speak powerfully about economic issues including work, saving, spending, and care for the poor. However, these teachings arose in a significantly different context than that of modern Christians in Western nations. The ethical teachings can be applied to modern economic life using a framework consisting of the ratio of time and wages, which helps to better understand the purchasing power and economic costs of subsistence and luxury goods in the ancient context. This time/ wage measurement helps to discern the ethical expectations for generosity and stewardship in the New Testament.
David Kotter, “The Time/Wage Index: A Framework for Applying Christian Ethical Teachings to Modern Economic Systems,” Journal of Markets & Morality 27, no. 2 (2024): 181–191.