What does the Bible say about wealth and possessions? Or, are wealth and possessions not good for Christians?

Of course, I bet you know of Christians who have so much money and wealth that you wonder if that’s biblical.

Or, with reference to when Jesus said to the people that it’s challenging for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven, you may conclude that wealth and money aren’t good for Christians (Matthew 19:23-24).

What if I could tell you the Bible does not say that wealth, money, and possessions aren’t bad for Christians?

This reflection discusses it, but before delving into that, I would like you to review what we’ve studied so far in this series: 

• What does the Bible say about Sin?
• What does the Bible say about Salvation?
• What does the Bible say about Death?
• What does the Bible say about Suffering?

In some way, the concepts of weal and money intertwine with some of the previous reflections. We will not delve into that at this point for the sake of what we have to discuss in the following lines.

Take a look at 1 Timothy 6:9-10,

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Nowhere in the Bible, God condemns money, wealth, and possessions. Actually, money and possessions are the second topics most referenced in the entire Scripture.

So, the Bible could be used as an excellent financial advisor for several reasons!

 

 

Love God more than you love money and possessions

 

 

First, God wants us to love God more than we love money and possessions.

Throughout human existence, replacing God with anything else has always been a temptation for us all. Actually, this struggle has been a part of our everyday living from the very beginning.

Check out the reflection on “What the Bible says about sin.”

Replacing God with money, wealth, or possessions, carries the same weight just as doing it with anything else.

 

 

It’s the greatest commandment of all

 

 

Read Matthew 22:37,

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

The whole point is that when we do it, it’s idolatry, and, in a lot of ways, breaking the greatest commandment.

This commandment combined with the second greatest, which is to love other people as ourselves, fulfill all the law and the prophets.

The Law, according to the text in Matthew 22:37 (above), means the first five books in the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). They are also referred to as “The Pentateuch.”

 

 

You cannot serve God and money at the same time

 

 

When we love something or someone, we also shift our priorities as a result. Shifting our priorities to align ourselves with what or who we love also affects our relationship with God.

In other words, it has ramifications on three levels: our loyalty, servanthood, and where our heart goes. 

The following two scriptures, in Jesus’ words, say it all: 

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Luke 16:13.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.

 

There is always some temptation to let wealth and possessions define our value. As a result, we forget that God is the source of everything we have as well as everything we are.

Read these two scriptures:

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:18. 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26. 

 

 

There are two things God would like you to do when it comes to money and possessions

 

 

The bottom line is to practice two simple things. 

First, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). The Kingdom of God is all about:

• righteousness;
• peace; and
• joy. See Romans 14:17. 

Those should always be our priorities. They are what we should be after, and our resources (wealth, possessions, etc.) are a means to help us accomplish all the above.

Also, Paul adds this phrase “in the Holy Spirit.”

When you think for a moment about that statement, there’s an implication of relationship. And, relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit dwells in us as a result of our faith in Jesus Christ, and who strengthens us to do all the above.

Second, be faithful with what God has given you. The reason is that a faithful person is the one who abounds with blessings (see Proverbs 28:20).

Also, the one who gets more means God has trusted them with so much to love and serve more. Much will be required from those who have more than others too (Luke 12:48).

[bctt tweet=”So, wealth and possessions are not evil things to have. But, it depends on how you get them, and what you do with them.” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

Christians use them as a means to spread the good news of the kingdom of God. They are faithful to God with everything they have and are!