Biblical Teaching on Wealth and Riches
Once a Sunday school teacher told the story of the rich man and Lazarus to the students. After explaining to the students about the plight of the rich man in hell and Lazarus in heaven, she asked the students, “Children, whom do you want to be like – Lazarus or the rich man?” One student rose up quickly and said, “I want to be like the rich man in this world and like Lazarus in the next world.”
Today, many Christians are like this Sunday school student. They want to be rich in this world and also in the next world, without knowing the fact that the abundance of possession leads to covetousness; and riches are not the basis of life.
When Jesus Christ was teaching to the people, one man from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus Christ said to the man, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:13,15). Then Jesus Christ narrated the parable of the rich fool and said, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke l2:21).
Jesus Christ warned people to be careful in accumulating riches in this world because He believed that life is not just having possessions in this world. He called people to be rich toward God. Let us study 1 Tim. 6:6-19 to understand the teaching of St. Paul on wealth and riches in this world.
1. Godliness with contentment is great gain: Someone once asked Mr. Rockfeller, one of the wealthiest men in the world, “How much wealth does it take to satisfy a man?” He answered, “Just a little more.” Even Rockfeller was not satisfied with what he had. He wanted to have more. The normal tendency of man is not to be content with what he has and believers must learn to be content in whatever state they are. In 1 Tim. 6:6-8 Paul gives the following three facts to teach that
Godliness + contentment = great gain.
a. Never consider godliness as a means of gain: This is because some believers use godliness to earn riches and wealth. St. Paul instructed Timothy to withdraw from such believers. (vs.5)
b. Nothing can be taken away from the world: Paul wrote, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out?” (vs.7)
c. Be satisfied with your food and clothing: “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” (vs.8)
2. Do not desire to be rich: Once I read about a famous boxing champion who received gold biscuits as the prize for his performance. After getting the prize he returned to his country in a ship. To safeguard the gold biscuits he put them inside a belt and tied it around his waist. On the way the ship began to sink due to a storm. So he jumped into the sea. He could not float due to the weight of the gold and went to the bottom of the sea and died immediately. The gold biscuits that the champion loved very much drowned him. The Bible teaches that believers should not desire to be rich but flee from riches. This is because of the following three reasons.
a. The rich fall into temptation and a snare (vs.9)
b. The rich fall into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition (vs.9)
c. 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. But you, O man of God flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (vs.10,11)
3. Do not trust in uncertain riches: The Bible is not against rich people. Abraham, Job, and Solomon were rich. The Bible clearly teaches that rich should not put their trust on uncertain riches but should do the following.
a. The rich should not be haughty nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God (vs.17)
b. The rich should be rich in good works doing good, ready to give and willing to share (vs.18)
c. The rich should store up for future- a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life (vs.19).
(Dr. C. Barnabas, Taken from True Discipleship, July 1997)