Biblical Teaching on Wealth
In recent years there has been a growing misunderstanding about what the Bible teaches about wealth. It is now commonly taught that wealth is a God-given guarantee. It is supposedly guaranteed because of God’s covenant with Abraham. It is argued that we are under that same covenant. All we need to do is look at the covenant God made with Abraham and we will see that wealth and health is not even mentioned. God made a two-fold covenant with Abraham. Look at these passages:
Genesis 15:
18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates --
Genesis 17:
2 "And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
6 "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
7 "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
8 "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Even the casual reader can see the promises of this covenant: your descendents will inherit the land and I will make you a great nation. God renamed him from Abram, which means ‘exalted father’ to Abraham, which means ‘father of a multitude’. When God called Abraham at the beginning, God did give him a command and promised that obedience would produce blessing. However, we can’t mistake the covenant as being God’s promise of blessing because of obedience. God’s word is filled with promises of blessing to those who obey and warnings for those who disobey God. God’s blessings are not obtained by claiming it with words alone. Every blessing has a command and every command is a blessing. God deals with individuals. Because God promised to make Abraham’s name great and produce a great nation does not mean that each of us will have that same promise.
Many Christians are led to believe that giving is an investment. If you give a thousand dollars, you will get five thousand in return. Some have even taken Jesus’ parable of the sower and claim that God will take our giving and return it to us a hundredfold. The parable identifies the seed as the Word of God, not money given to ministries. The parable about the sower is about sowing the word of God. The parable found in Matthew 13 also tells us that some fall on stony ground and were scorched; some fell by the wayside and was snatched away; and some fell among thorns and were choked. We sow the word of God knowing that not everyone will receive. We also know that of those who do receive it, not all will follow it. Many will be offended or will choose the cares of this world. However, we should be encouraged to persevere knowing that those who grow will reproduce the labor. Some will multiply a little and some will be dynamic and passionate and accomplish much. The very premise that we give to God in order to become financially wealthy is the opposite of what scripture teaches. Look at Luke 6:
34 "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
If you lend hoping to receive back, the Bible says that this is not credit to you. God blesses those who give out of a desire to love, not out of a desire to gain. Of course the true church understands that Christianity is not a quest for money, but in the world’s eyes, those who turn Christianity into a money making opportunity are viewed as the same as Biblical Christianity. Let’s take a moment to consider the purpose of money.
Is Money Evil?
Money is not good nor is it evil. Money is completely neutral. It is a tool in our hand and becomes good or evil depending on the heart of the person possessing or seeking it. Look at 1 Timothy 6:
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It is the love of money that is evil and creates a desire that leads to sin. Greed and a love for money is just as much idolatry as bowing down and worshipping a statue of Buddha. Since money is a necessary part of life, loving money is easy to justify. Loving money, I believe, is an affection for wealth that puts it above God in our lives. Loving money is when it no longer is a tool, but the priority in our life. Loving money is when I consider myself the owner of it rather than the God’s appointed steward of it. Colossians 3:5 tells us that covetousness is idolatry. In the passage above, we are warned that many stray from the faith because of greed. Instead of finding the ‘blessings of God’, they are headed for sorrow and pain.
God is not against money; however, God is against loving money. People are not wealthy because they are not able to handle wealth and keep God on the throne of their lives. The Bible teaches us that God will not give us more than we are able to handle. If my life is already so crowded that I cannot find time for God, how can I ask God to give me more? If I struggle to find consistent prayer time, consistent Bible study, and a consistent walk with God, what will wealth do to me? Wealth produces opportunities that can be good, but it also produces opportunities to become busier and less focused on the correct priorities. Ironically, if getting wealth is a priority, it shows that God’s will is not.
Money is not the standard of faith or godliness, but it can reveal a lot about me. For example, what I do with my money reveals what is important in my life. We frequently hear about giving our tithes to God, but this is only part of the picture. Giving tithes does not make me righteous; it only sheds light on my relationship with God. If I cling to my money, I show that I don’t trust God. Everything that I have belongs to God. I am only a steward – or caretaker – of what God has entrusted to me. If I don’t give to God what already belongs to Him, it reveals that I don’t understand my role in this life. Possessions become my fulfiller instead of God. If my spiritual life has the right focus, the natural result is that I will give to God from my heart, not from duty. That is why the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver. A grudging giver doesn’t have any more understanding about their relationship with God than a non-giver. My relationship with God affects every area of my life. If I exclude God from any area, I am not making Him Lord.
This doesn’t just apply to money; it applies to my entire life. I give my time, my praise, my finances, my desires and everything I have to God. The greatest commandment is to love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, mind, soul and strength. Nothing in our life is excluded. Of course it is a growing process of learning to surrender each area one-by-one and making Him Lord. A desire to make Jesus Lord should begin immediately, but it does not happen automatically in every area. Spiritual maturity is learning to love God and make Him Lord. If I am struggling to make Him Lord, how can I expect God to give me more? Wealth opens many doors that crowd God out. I may say that I can worship God on a boat, but in reality, boats, cars, things and activities can easily become my god. If God is not on the throne of my life now, He won’t be even if I have everything that I think I need.
Were the apostles were rich?
Because money has too high of a focus, many teachers attempt to persuade people into believing that Jesus and the Apostles were teaching the same things. Some claim that the apostle Paul was so wealthy that officials attempted to extract bribes from him. One teacher said that Judas being a thief was proof that the disciples were very wealthy. He claimed that they would have noticed the missing money if it wasn’t flowing freely. My first reaction is to ask why he would have to steal if he was already this wealthy?
I listened to one popular preacher proclaim that it was religious traditions that cause people to believe that Jesus and the disciples were poor and that there is nothing in the Bible to substantiate this. In the next section we will examine the claims that Jesus was rich. In this section, let’s examine the claim that the Bible substantiates whether or not the disciples were poor. In reality, there is no substantiation that they are rich. We know by their own words that they lived in poverty. Look at 1 Corinthians 4
9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
Does this sound like a proclamation of wealth? Paul said in unmistakable terms, “to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless”. Homeless? Hungry? Poorly clothed? Does this sound like Paul bribes justice and has high living in wealth? In 2 Timothy 4, Paul sent a letter asking that someone be sent to bring his cloak and come before winter. Why didn’t Paul ask for his money? Why didn’t Paul just buy a new cloak? Let’s look at Philippians 4 to get more details:
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
Paul thanked the Thessalonian church for sending him aid and meeting his needs. Why was Paul in need? Philippians 3 answers this:
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Paul clearly states that he has lost all things. He is not grieving in his poverty, but rejoicing because of the greater inheritance that he has in Christ. It is not only Paul, but the early church suffered severe persecution and many lived in poverty. Look at Hebrews 10:
34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Like Paul, this church suffered the loss of their possessions. They were plundered by their persecutors and Paul reminds them not to lose confidence in God but to look ahead and know that they will have greater possessions in heaven. God will restore abundantly more than anything that can be lost in this life. Romans 8:18 tells us that the losses in this life are not even worthy to be compared to what will be gained in heaven. In Christ, there is no such thing as a loss. Every loss in this life is a reward in heaven. There is a tremendous testimony to substantiate that Jesus and the apostles were willingly poor. They were poor because they chose to count the things of this life as trash compared to what lies ahead. There is not, however, any Bible to substantiate the wealth of Jesus and his followers. Not everyone will be poor, but we also know that not everyone will be rich. It is God who decides according to His purpose and will. The truly rich are those who chose sacrifice in this life knowing that what awaits in heaven is incomparable. It is easy to pursue earthly wealth because we can see and touch it. It is hard to put aside worldly possessions and pursue heavenly wealth because we can’t see it. We can only believe God’s word. That is the choice everyone will make.
Jesus was rich?
To justify a quest for wealth, many attempt to convince us that Jesus was as they are trying to become. They claim that Jesus had houses and much wealth. One goes as far to claim that the Bible says that Jesus had a big house. I challenge anyone to find a single passage that even implies that Jesus had a house. Consider the facts surrounding Jesus. Every event in Jesus’ life was with borrowed property. He was born in a borrowed stable. His first miracle of turning water into wine was with borrowed jugs. Twice He fed the 5,000 with borrowed fish and bread. To get the money to pay taxes, Jesus sent Peter to catch a fish that would have a coin in its mouth. During His triumphant entry into Jerusalem (the greatest prophecy in the Old Testament) He rode on a borrowed donkey. He had the last supper with his disciples in a borrowed room. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. Because there were no servants to perform the traditional lowly task of washing the feet of guests, Jesus humbled Himself to do this task. Where is the wealth? The Bible carefully paints the picture of Messiah with humility, but those who love the world attempt to recreate Him into what they want themselves to be.
The problem is that people don’t want a Jesus that says, ‘Anyone who desires to come after Me must deny himself. For whosoever loves his life will lose it, but whosoever loses his life for My sake will find it’ (Luke 9:23-24). People want a Jesus who promises them heaven on earth and instant gratification. Esau said the same thing. He could not wait and he sold his inheritance to Jacob for instant gratification. Jesus taught His followers not to seek the things of this life. In John 6:27, He said not to labor for food that perishes, but for what endures for eternal life. In Matthew 6:19 Jesus said not to lay up treasures on this earth which is perishing, but work for that which is in heaven. Wouldn’t this be hypocritical to teach others not to pursue wealth while He was doing the opposite?
One of the defenses for the wealthy Jesus doctrine is Judas. Those who teach the ‘wealth gospel’ ask why the disciples did not know Judas was stealing. After all, the Bible says that He was a thief from the beginning. On Television one stated, if there were only three oranges in the purse and Judas took one, then they all would have known. If there was a lot of money, it could have gone unnoticed.
The question I have is, ‘how did they know Judas was a thief in the end?’ Why would Judas have to steal if they all were lavished in wealth? Why would 50 pieces of silver entice Judas to betray Christ if he was rolling in the dough? If all the apostles were wealthy and they found out that Judas had a stash after he died, no one would have been surprised. But if they were not wealthy and they found Judas’ stash, they would have all known that he must have been stealing from the beginning. Considering that Judas was the treasurer and they often used their money for the poor, it would have been relatively easy to pilfer during his errands. We know from John 13:26-29 that it was not unusual for Judas to go out alone to buy necessities or to give to the poor. After Judas’ suicide, if they found a substantial amount of money in his belongings, they would have known that he was a thief from the beginning.
I also listed as one preacher stated that poverty was a sin. If this is true then every Christian in impoverished nations are condemned by sin. We have already seen that the apostles themselves declared that they were plundered, lost everything and were homeless and in need. According to this doctrine the apostles were guilty of sin. You cannot find one passage in the Bible to support this claim that poverty is a sin. On the contrary, look at 2 Corinthians 8:
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
The background of this passage was that the churches of Jerusalem were in desperate need. They were under heavy persecution and did not have the money to meet their basic needs. They were on the verge of starvation. The apostle’s took up a collection from various churches to meet this need. They did not come to the church in Macedonia. The reason was that Macedonia was also in deep poverty, though not as severe as the church in Jerusalem. Macedonia heard about the collection and they gave beyond their ability.
Was this church a bunch of sinners because of their poverty? This church is a testimony against teachers who claim poverty is a sin. They were poor in wealth, but rich in joy and the grace of God. Also notice who they gave to. They did not give to someone driving a Rolls Royce and claiming that God would make them rich. They gave to those who had less than they had. True giving is giving to those who are in greater need than you are. Look at Luke 14
12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
13 "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
This passage flies in the face of the prosperity gospel. We are not asked to give to the wealthy who have ‘mastered faith’. We are to give to those who have need and can’t repay. Also contrary to the wealth doctrine is the time of repayment. It is true that God may indeed bless us in this life so that we can be instruments of His grace to others, but your reward is at the resurrection not in this life. Blessings in this life are for us show faithfulness and to become a blessing to others. Each of us must decide how much we are willing to sacrifice. Some people who could be wealthy commit themselves to poverty so that their reward will not be in this life alone. Some sacrifice a little, some a lot and some use wealth to serve God. I believe that there must be a continuous self-examination to determine how much we will give and how much we will absorb into our own life. We should never be bound to the assumption that 10% tithing is the rule. We are to be givers, not tithers. Tithing is good and is needed for the finances of the church, but if I don’t consider all that I have as God’s property, then I have missed the big picture.
Asking of God
A popular teaching is that God will produce the fruit of your lips. We should speak positive, faith filled words into our life. Words do not have power. We don’t use faith as our source of power. These beliefs align closer to New Age beliefs than scripture. We are called to have faith in God. Simply put, faith in God is believing God. If I believe God, I will submit and obey. If I don’t have faith, I won’t follow God. God is not here for my gain or my pleasure. I was created for God, not He for us. 1 Timothy 6 addresses the issue of using God as gain:
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
How does the Bible command us to respond to those who claim that godliness is a means to gain wealth? “From such withdraw yourself”. We ask of God in order to show our dependence on God. When I don’t pray, I reveal that I am proud and don’t see my need for God. We are commanded to take all things to God in prayer – even the little things. We are commanded to ask God for His will, wisdom, our daily bread, forgiveness for our sins, our enemies, and every need that we have. In Matthew 6, after Jesus taught His disciples to pray for these things, then He taught them not to worry about their needs. Your heavenly Father knows that you need these things before we ask. Yet we are still commanded to ask so that we understand that He knows, we understand that we need God and so that we do not get lifted up with pride and take God’s provisions for granted.
Our motives are found in Matthew 6
33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Most people have no concept that they are in fact seeking their own kingdom and not God’s. People think that whatever you ask, God must do. This is not true and the Bible does not teach this. We can take one verse out of context to create these doctrines, but the Bible is a complete revelation. We must allow scripture to interpret scripture. Look at John 14:
13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
People love to quote the first half of this verse and ignore the second half. The purpose of asking is that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you are asking for self-centered motives, you can claim this passage all you want but you can’t expect God to honor it. Jump down one chapter to John 15:
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Once again, there are guidelines to the promise. If you abide in Christ and His words abide in you, then you will ask for God’s glory and it will be done. The purpose of asking – that you bear much fruit. You are laboring for God’s kingdom and not your own. Look now at 1 John 5:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Once again, if we are asking according to His will, we can have confidence in our petitions. The Christian life is a life that is focused on eternity. We may get sidetracked and lose focus, but when our focus is on Christ, we will have the right motives and will inherit the promises of God. There are many more passages, but I believe these clearly show that our motives must be examined in light of God’s word. In the book of James, the Bible says that we can ask and will not get because we ask with world-centered motives.
Conclusion
The reason why this issue is important is that these doctrines of error are recreating Jesus into our image instead of calling us to conform to His. Jesus chose to come – not as a king to be served – but as a suffering servant who willingly chose poverty. If God chose to identify Himself in this way, what right does any man have to declare this as wrong and then chose to make God fit his ideals?
Look at 1 Peter 2:
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
This passage does not say that Jesus was wealthy and we should follow His steps. Scripture reveals that Jesus suffered for doing what was right and took it patiently and we should follow that example. If someone teaches that our example is a carefree, self-indulgent, self-centered life and the Bible teaches that Jesus’ example is to endure patiently the suffering of this life knowing that the reward that lies ahead is incomparable to a moment of suffering, then we have a serious discrepancy. If you are following a false Jesus, then you are not following the Biblical Jesus.
It is important that we understand fully the choice that we are making. If we choose the Jesus modeled after the world, then we have no reward in heaven. That is a great sacrifice to make for a temporary life. If the Bible says that the suffering of this life is not worthy of comparison against the rewards of heaven, then the benefits of this life are not either. If you are following Jesus’ steps then it is important to know the Jesus as revealed in scripture.
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