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Wealth

This is a question that many Christians struggle with, especially in a world that values material success and prosperity. The Bible warns us about the dangers of loving money and trusting in riches, but does that mean that being wealthy is sinful or incompatible with following Jesus?

In this article, I will explore what the Scripture says about wealth and its effects on our relationship with God. I will also share some practical tips on how to use our resources wisely and generously for God’s glory and the good of others.

‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

Revelation 3:17 (NASB95)

Let us look at what Jesus said about wealth. In Matthew 19:16-26, we read the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments, and the man replied that he had done so since his youth. Then Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (v. 21)

But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (v. 22-24)

This passage shows us that wealth can be a hindrance to following Jesus, because it can make us attached to this world and unwilling to give up everything for Him. Wealth can also make us proud and self-reliant, thinking that we have no need of God or His grace. This is what Jesus warned the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:17, where He said, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

Wealth can blind us to our true spiritual condition and our need for repentance and faith. It can also make us indifferent to the needs of others and the causes of God’s kingdom. Jesus said in Luke 12:15, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” He also said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

These verses show us that wealth can become an idol in our hearts, competing with God for our love, loyalty, and devotion. Wealth can also lead us into temptation and evil, as Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

So, does this mean that all wealthy people are doomed or that we should all take a vow of poverty? Not necessarily. The Bible does not condemn wealth itself, but rather the wrong attitude and use of wealth. The Bible also acknowledges that wealth can be a blessing from God and a tool for good. For example, Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, Lydia, Philemon, etc., were all wealthy people who loved God and served Him faithfully.

The key is not how much we have, but how we view and use what we have. The Bible teaches us that everything we have belongs to God and that we are stewards or managers of His resources. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.” 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, “For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

We are not owners but stewards of God’s gifts. Therefore, we should use them according to His will and purpose. We should not hoard them or waste them or spend them selfishly or extravagantly. We should not trust in them or boast in them or love them more than God. We should not neglect our spiritual duties or our moral obligations because of them.

Sacrificial giving is giving something that is precious, costly, or beyond one’s means for the love of God or another. It is an act of worship and devotion that may have a specific purpose or lead to a breakthrough or joy. It may involve giving time, talent, or money. It is not going into debt or giving money that one does not have. It is not a normal church offering or seed-faith. It may not be an ongoing process but done to meet an immediate need.

Rather, we should use our wealth to honor God

  • Job 31:24–25 (NASB95) — 24 “If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, 25 If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much;
  • Job 31:28 (NASB95) — 28 That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
  • Proverbs 11:28 (NASB95) — 28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.