Our possessions, including money, are some of the most important indicators of our spiritual life. Jesus spoke of money and possessions often, as did Paul. A failure to honor Christ with our stuff can lead to temporal and spiritual ruin. Many Christians are experiencing financial difficulties right now. Recently I learned of some pastors who are taking pay cuts because several of their members have lost jobs or have moved to get better paying jobs. Many are seeing an increase in healthcare costs. When hard times come it is good to back to the basics. Here is some of the Bible’s central teachings on our possessions. It is taken primarily from Matthew 6:19-34 and I Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19, though other passages are incorporated.
- God is our Father. He loves us and will care for us. Therefore we should not worry. If he chooses to remove some of our possessions, it is for our good. This should also lead us to pray for our needs.
- We will die. Therefore we need to make sure our possessions are being used to store up treasure in heaven.
- We should earn our money through honest, hard work that does not take advantage of the poor and weak.
- Possessions are gifts from God, even those possessions we have worked hard for. Possessions and work are part of God’s grace to us.
- We are stewards of our possessions. A steward was someone left in charge of a house while the master was away. Jesus uses this model in Matthew 25:14-30. Paul also uses a similar idea in passages like Colossians 3:23-25. We will answer to our master with how we use our time, money, and possessions.
- Wealth is neither vice or virtue.
- Poverty is neither vice or virtue.
- Both wealth and poverty come with temptations. When one is rich they tend to forget God and become proud. When one is poor they tend to doubt Him and grumble against him. (See Proverbs 30:7-9) God is to be honored with our possessions, whether we are rich or poor. We are to trust in him and be generous with what he has given to us.
- A country, people, family, or other social unit that seeks to honor God with their possessions will generally grow in wealth (Ephesians 4:28).
- Tithing is an essential part of our Christian life. A failure to tithe shows a failure to love God, love the Church, and love the lost.
- God wants us to enjoy our possessions. We should not feel guilty about what we own or about enjoying it. We should not be selfish gluttons or live in luxury. But we can eat our food, drink our beer, sleep in our beds, read our books, play in our yards, and drive our cars with thankfulness and joy.
- Those who are rich in this world are expected to be rich in good works. To whom much is given, much is required. The wealthiest Christians should be the ones doing the most good deeds. But these good deeds should be hidden, not paraded before men. (See Matthew 6:1-4)
- Christians should be known for their contentment. We should not be proud when we have a lot. Nor should we be disturbed when God removes some of our possessions from us. We should be content in all circumstances. (Philippians 4:11-13) In a world that always wants more, contentment is a great witness.
- The desire to be wealthy is sin. We should work hard, plan wisely and let God build our bank account as he sees fit. Proverbs 27:20 says, “The eyes are never satisfied.” You will not be satisfied when you get what you want, so be content with what you have.
- A love of money can destroy someone’s faith and plunge them to ruin. (See I Timothy 6:9-10) We often joke about greed, but in the Scriptures it is a terrible sin. Greed can choke the spiritual life out of a man and send him to Hell.
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