𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵?

This is the question that splits rooms. One side preaches wealth as proof of faith. The other preaches poverty as proof of holiness. Both are reading half a Bible.

Here is the whole one.

𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵. Abraham was "very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." Genesis 13:2. Job was the greatest of all the men of the east, and after his trial God doubled it. David left Solomon a treasury that built the Temple. Lydia funded the first church in Europe. Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, gave Jesus His tomb. Wealth in righteous hands is a kingdom instrument.

𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁. "They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare." 1 Timothy 6:9. Will be. The verb is desire. Not those who become rich, those who are set on it. The rich young ruler was not condemned for his gold. He was condemned for his grip. He walked away sad because the money owned him, not the other way round.

So the honest answer is this: 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲. Wealth is frequently a result. It is never the goal. "Seek ye first the kingdom… and all these things shall be added." Matthew 6:33. Order, not exclusion. The things are added. They are not sought.

Paul's instruction to those who already have money is the most balanced sentence on the subject. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute." 1 Timothy 6:17-18

Enjoy it. Don't trust it. Distribute it. That is the whole theology of money in one breath.

And a warning from Abraham that most prosperity teaching skips. When the king of Sodom offered him the spoils of war, he refused: "lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich." Genesis 14:23. Not all increase is clean increase. Some money comes with a sponsor you do not want.

So, should you want to be rich?

Want to be faithful. Want to be excellent. Want to be generous. If wealth comes, hold it with open hands and let it flow. If it doesn't, you have lost nothing that was ever the point.

The barn-builder in Luke 12 was not a fool because he was rich. He was a fool because God was not in the plans.

Be rich toward God. Everything else is a detail.

#InNotOf #Faith #Money #Stewardship