Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures forever (Psalms 112:3).
As much negative as the Bible has to say about material wealth and riches, one would think that there is no virtue in accumulating it. First Timothy 6:9 has this to say, But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. So, it is true that the accumulation of material wealth cannot be the first priority of one who is committed to Christ, but the earning of material wealth is an absolute necessity. Consider these texts: If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (I Timothy 5:8); For even when we were with you we gave you this command: If anyone will not work, let him not eat (II Thessalonians 3:10). This was standard Hebrew teaching, every little Jewish boy was taught these work ethics as he grew up--generally, the gentiles were not so blessed.
When a person lives up to his responsibility to God, his family and his community, wealth almost always accumulates: A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4).*
When a person diligently works at honest labor, spending less that he or she makes, over the years a small fortune will accumulate (Some of the things we need to teach our children about money are: 1. Debt is expensive; 2. The power of compound interest.) Generally, those who try all the get-rich-quick schemes end up in their own personal poverty.
Because of the tendency for material wealth to accumulate when a person is living up to his responsibilities it is easy to make an erroneous assumption, that material wealth, in itself, is a sign of righteousness and salvation because material wealth is a sign of God's blessing. When Jesus said, 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," the disciples were exceedingly astonished and they asked, "Then who can be saved?" (Mark 10:25-26). To the disciples, material wealth was a sign of God's approval on a person's life. When the Lord asked the question, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?" he made it crystal clear that the accumulation of material wealth has little to do with salvation so one should not make accumulating wealth the purpose of his life!!!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*Where the government allows lawlessness to exist, or the government, itself, is corrupt then the opportunity to accumulate material wealth is severely reduced!
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2 comments:
Sometimes, Dr. Steele, you amaze me. Isn't one of the things that we need to teach our children about money is that it all belongs to God? Therefore our first responsibility is to use it wisely. People think we are a little far from civilization out here in the sandhills, but apparently we have a little more spirituality. --Husker Red
Sorry I so late answering you HR. You are right, of course, and I am sorry for not including that truth in the post. All of us are merely stewards of what God has given us. In our stewardship of our lives, it must be remembered, however, how expensive it is to be in debt. The borrower literally does become the slave of the lender, making what is purchased much more expensive.
If one is able to save and invest, the power of compound interest can turn a little savings into a fortune over the years.
The biggest enemy of wealth building is discontentment which makes people spend more than they make and prevents saving and investment.
Watch for the next post on contentment.
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