The Christian and His Wealth

The Christian and His Wealth

Job 31:24-28 (ESV) “If I have made gold my trust

or called fine gold my confidence,

²⁵      if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant

or because my hand had found much,

²⁶      if I have looked at the sun when it shone,

or the moon moving in splendor,

²⁷      and my heart has been secretly enticed,

and my mouth has kissed my hand,

²⁸      this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,

for I would have been false to God above.

Mark 10:23 (ESV)  And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

So, what are Christians to do with wealth or even more than they need?  I think the Bible tells us there are three categories where our money should go:

My personal belief and budgeting practice has been that my first check for 10% goes to God.  I get this from Luke 11:42 (ESV)  “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

That is our tithe.  Anything over that is an additional offering to God for a particular need He has shown us. 

So, first I give to the God Who has provided this money.  I’d like to say here if you are truly not able to do this, until you can, giving what you can afford and tithing your time in His work is a practice I believe God will honor.

Secondly, I’m required to provide for my family’s direct needs:  1 Tim. 5:8 (ESV)  But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Our family’s needs are paramount and honorable.  Someone who works to put food on the family table and a roof over the family’s heads, to clothe them and warm them, no matter what their job might be, is a hero in my book and has fulfilled the requirements God has given him/her.  I had a friend that literally scraped the slime from the gutters of the streets of our town in order to provide for his wife and two young children.  He was an honorable man in God’s eyes.

My third category is others.  Yes, our obligation even reaches others in need.  We see this in a quote from Job in the same chapter as above, verses 16-23 (ESV):

¹⁶      “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,

or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

¹⁷      or have eaten my morsel alone,

and the fatherless has not eaten of it

¹⁸      (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father,

and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow),

¹⁹      if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,

or the needy without covering,

²⁰      if his body has not blessed me,

and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

²¹      if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,

because I saw my help in the gate,

²²     then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,

and let my arm be broken from its socket.

²³     For I was in terror of calamity from God,

and I could not have faced his majesty.

Why is this important?

God has given us money for a reason.  It can be earned or given.  Either way, it is a blessing, and we are to be good stewards of what He has given.  Some of us don’t do this.  We are unwise with what we have.  The Bible speaks against greed, against holding back the money God has given and not using it as God wills.

In the U.S. God has often given us more than enough for all of the above.  It is at our discretion how this is to be used.  Yes, we can use some of the “surplus” for relaxation, for refreshing our spirits, for things so long as those don’t become the center of our lives, the idols we worship rather than Jehovah Jireh, the God who will provide.  God will bless a good steward.  Prov. 3:9-10 (ESV)       

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.