People have different views about wealth, whether they are religious or not. Some turn it into an idol, while others portray it as evil. As Christians, our view of wealth should be somewhere between these two extremes. While we need to avoid “the love of money” because it is “a root of all sorts of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), the Scriptures tell us that whatever wealth we have is a blessing from God.
“Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
The wise man said later that “money is the answer for anything” (Ecclesiastes 10:19), highlighting the usefulness of wealth. However, whatever wealth we have, we must use it in a way that honors God.
“Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce” (Proverbs 3:9).
Honoring God with Our Wealth
How do we do this? If we have been blessed with an abundance (and many of us have been blessed with more than we often acknowledge), how do we use it to honor God? The Scriptures mention several ways we can do this. By following the instructions found in God’s word, we bring honor to Him.
Provide for ourselves and our family – “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). This responsibility is so important that Paul said that one who failed to do this had “denied the faith.” Of course, the principle about one’s willingness to work (2 Thessalonians 3:10) indicates that we are judged based upon our ability to work. In other words, if someone is unable to work, he is not condemned for not working. But for those of us who are able-bodied, we are to provide for our families. If we are blessed with an abundance, that enables us to do this to a greater extent.
Invest to build more wealth – “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master’” (Matthew 25:20-21). This passage appears in Jesus’ parable of the talents, and a similar description is given of the servant who was given two talents and gained two more. Both of these men were commended for taking their master’s money, investing it, and growing his wealth. This is good to do because it provides more opportunities to do some of the items that follow in this list.
Save for the future to not be in need – “The rich man’s wealth is his fortress, the ruin of the poor is their poverty” (Proverbs 10:15). The wise man noted that wealth provides protection – just as a fortress would – from the challenges, dangers, and uncertainties of life. The future is uncertain, which is why the wise man said, “Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). He described going above and beyond the bare minimum required to provide for our necessities because things often do not go according to plan. Of course, if all the work we do is successful and we end up with an abundance, that can be saved for other uncertain times in the future.
Provide for your descendants after you are gone – “Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children” (2 Corinthians 12:14). Not only for one’s children, but the wise man said, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). Some talk (perhaps jokingly, perhaps not) about spending their children’s inheritance in order to live it up in their golden years, but this is not something that godly people do. There is nothing wrong with enjoying life after retirement, but it is wrong to disregard one’s children and grandchildren. The apostle Paul said that parents are still “responsible” for them.
Engage in good works – “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18). Some of the Christians that Timothy would teach could be rich. Rather than rebuking them for having wealth, Paul told Timothy to teach them to do good with it. In particular, this should be directed to their fellow Christians: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10).
Support the work of the church – “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). All Christians have a responsibility to give in order to fund the work of the church. However, since this is done according to how we “prosper,” those who have prospered more are able to give more. This will help the church have the resources it needs to do its work and even increase what it can do.
Support those who are working in the cause of Christ – “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him” (Galatians 6:6). One of the works of the church is evangelism, and one way congregations can do this by supporting those who preach the gospel (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:14; 2 Corinthians 11:8). However, Paul’s instruction to the Galatians shows that individual Christians are also able to provide this type of help directly. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, there were certain individuals “who were contributing to their [Jesus and His disciples] support out of their private means” (Luke 8:3). The same can be done today. If we have an abundance, we can provide support (either regularly or on a one-time basis) directly to those who are preaching and teaching the gospel.
Foolishly Using Our Wealth
However, while we can use our wealth in a way that honors God, we could also use it selfishly, just as the rich fool did.
“And He told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God’” (Luke 12:16-21).
On one hand, investing can be a wise use of our abundance because it provides us with additional opportunities to do good with the wealth we have been blessed with. On the other hand, hoarding (whether it be wealth, food, possessions, or anything else) for selfish and/or unproductive purposes, which is what the rich man in Jesus’ parable was doing, is much different. Notice what the wise man said:
“He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it” (Proverbs 11:26).
It would have been far better for the rich man to follow the wise man’s advice so that others could make use of his abundance rather than allowing the grain to spoil in his larger barns before he could ever use it.
How to Treat Those with Abundance
While God has blessed us, it is still easy to find people who have much more than we do from a material standpoint. How should we treat these individuals?
Should we envy them? No. We are not to be envious of anyone, no matter how much wealth they have. Paul warned that those who are covetous have no part in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5).
Should we vilify them? No. While many in the world promote the idea of “class warfare” and claim that people only become rich by exploiting the poor, God’s people must reject that idea. The psalmist wrote, “Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased…” (Psalm 49:16). Do some people exploit and oppress others in order to enrich themselves? Of course, that happens. But it is not true that if one is wealthy, then he must have done this. Remember, wealth is a blessing from God (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Often, someone becomes rich because they work hard, practice good stewardship, exercise wisdom, and provide a valuable product or service that people are willing to pay for. We should not view all those who are rich in the same negative light.
Should we steal from them? No. Instead, Paul wrote, “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need” (Ephesians 4:28). Under the Law of Moses, those who stole from others had to make restitution, even paying back up to four or five times what was originally taken (Exodus 22:1-4). Even if the victim was rich and the thief was poor, they were not to be “partial to a poor man” (Exodus 23:3). Stealing is not justified, regardless of the wealth disparity between the victim and the thief.
Should we tax them excessively? Many believe this is the only “fair” solution (sadly, even some Christians). But the Bible teaches that we pay whatever “tax is due” (Romans 13:7), and this is defined in the context of civil authorities carrying out the role God gave them (Romans 13:1-6). Rulers are to punish evildoers and protect the innocent, and “because of this you also pay taxes” (Romans 13:6). Do civil authorities demand taxes beyond what is necessary to fulfill their God-given role? Yes, every human government in history has done this to some degree. But that does not mean it is right for them to do this, nor is it God’s will for them to do it. It is not God’s will for civil authorities to confiscate the wealth of the rich and redistribute it to the poor.
Instead of doing these things, we should strive to teach the rich about their responsibilities before God whenever we have the opportunity. Of course, if they do not believe in or follow God, our efforts to teach must start there. But what about those who believe in God and acknowledge the truth of His word? Paul gave Timothy instructions that he was to pass on to those who were rich:
“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).
Many want to compel the rich to give to those who have less, or to confiscate their wealth by government force and redistribute it to others. Yet we need to remember this principle stated by Paul in his instructions to the church in Corinth about giving:
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
While that verse is talking about the giving we do to support the work of the church, the principle applies to other forms of benevolence. God wants us to help others because we want to (for the benefit of the one in need and to honor God), not because we are compelled to give against our will.
Conclusion
As Christians, we should not view wealth as inherently evil. Instead, we should recognize it as a blessing from God, which brings with it a responsibility to use it in a way that honors God. However much or little we have in terms of material possessions, let us strive to use them properly and always give thanks to God who blesses us with all things.
Great piece. God bless you