What should our goal be in amassing wealth? How much is enough, and how much is too much?
Mother Teresa lived in abject poverty, owning only one sari to her name. She impacted the world for good. Modern televangelists have grand churches, sumptuous homes, and they also spread the gospel across the earth.
Which of these are following the plan of God? The Word offers us three distinct exposes on this subject.
For our first example, turn to Matthew 17:24. The tax collector came to Peter and asked, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” In subsequent verses, Jesus sent Peter to catch a fish, and in the fish’s mouth was a coin to pay the tax for both of them.
Jesus was not overly concerned about earthly possessions. He lived as if God would provide for his daily needs.
When an unexpected bill came due, he trusted in the resources of his Father to meet the need.
How often does an expense hit us, and the first thing we do is wring our hands in despair? We should be like Jesus and trust in our heavenly Father, for he has said he will meet our every need.
Our second example is found in Luke 19:23. “Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?”
In this verse, we are in the middle of the story. A wealthy nobleman has traveled to a far country, leaving his managers in charge of his accounts. Upon his return, he found that one of his hirelings had put the money away in a safe place, rather than using it to further the nobleman’s business interests.
Later in the passage, the nobleman took the money from the hireling, leaving him with nothing.
When God gives us money, it is not ours to amass in private bank accounts. Nor should we be fearful that it will evaporate if we invest it in God’s works. God wants us to invest his blessings back into him.
Third, look to Acts 8:18. A man named Simon (who had amazed Samaria with his magic) saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands. He offered the Apostles money, saying, “Give me this power that I may also give this Spirit to others.”
God’s power is attractive, because the world has a spiritual hunger it isn’t even aware of.
The disciples were under the anointing of the Father, and when God’s power was put on display, Simon couldn’t help but pay attention.
Simon was attracted to God’s power, but he wasn’t interested in furthering the kingdom of God. Rather, he was interested in lining his own bank accounts.
God’s kingdom is not about making money. It is about using wealth to further God’s eternal plan. The real issue we face is how we view the money.
Read what the Word says in 1 Timothy 6:10. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.
Living in poverty is not God’s answer. Neither is amassing great wealth. It is our hearts that tell the true story of our wealth, for our wealth is in our salvation, in the example we set forth, and in the souls we have led to the altar. Our true wealth is in the kingdom of God.
If God is our focus, great material wealth will become a great opportunity to further his kingdom. Then others will know of the kingdom of God.
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