For those of us living in the western world, in the United States and other wealthy nations, we often talk about how blessed we are to have been born into a country that doesn’t have as many struggles or hardships as those who are living in poorer and third world nations.
We don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from, or where we’re going to sleep at night. We typically don’t have to worry about getting caught up in wars or civil unrest. Usually the biggest things we have to worry about are saving for retirement and finding a nice home in a good school district.
While we are very blessed to not have to worry about the necessities of life like food, clothing and shelter, there are times when our wealth can put us at a disadvantage.
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Our Wealth Can Make Us Believe We Don’t Need God
In a message a couple of weeks ago at our church Pastor Tim Weber (above) talked about how our wealth can make us feel like we’re invincible, that we can supply all of our own needs on our own and that we don’t need God. Our wealth becomes a substitute for God, and can become a wall that keeps us from truly depending and relying on God.
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall. Proverbs 18:11
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
The wealth that we so often depend on can be gone in a flash, and it will always disappoint and leave you wanting for something more. God on the other hand is an ever present help in trouble.
Wealth And How It Can Distort Our True Need For God
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:18:-27
In the verse Jesus states that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. He doesn’t say it’s impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, just that it is possible with God. The wealth has to be held in check, we need to acknowledge that it’s all God’s in the first place. It’s His and we need to use the wealth for His purposes.
If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Psalm 50:12
God Gives Us Margin To Help Others
When we’re given wealth I don’t think that God has made us stewards of that wealth in order to make us rich. Instead we’re being given a responsibility to be generous to others and help others who are in need. We need to share his Word and love.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
God wants us to cultivate a life of generosity and of evangelism, loving others and providing an example of his love.
God Will Provide
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matt 6:26
Ultimate Wealth Is In God
I think that God wants us to enjoy the things he has given, and that there isn’t anything wrong with going on a nice vacation or driving a nice car if you can afford it. But your use of what God has given you has to be kept in tension. Spending too much or relying on money too much can become a barrier to our relationship with God. The antidote? To rely on God and live a life of giving and caring for others. Don’t pursue money for money’s sake.
God gave us the ultimate gift. Though he was the ultimate ruler of the universe and owner of all that ever was, he became poor for our sake.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
He saved us from our sins when he died on the cross and gave us true riches in Him.
This is something I’ve been struggling with lately. With more wealth there’s definitely more responsibility. And it gets harder to NOT start trusting in your bank account when times are good.
This article reminds me of the idea that a criminal has an advantage to truly understanding God’s grace.
Going through hardships definitely has a clarifying and intensifying effect when it comes to your relationship with God. It does have a way of helping us to understand God’s grace.
Great post, Pete!
My pastor talked about a similar thing this weekend. It’s really tough for somebody that has no struggles and can afford all of the luxuries in the world to see a need for Jesus. I’d imagine that person would think something like ‘what is Jesus going to do for me? I already have a great life and everything in the world…I accomplished this on my own.’
I think it’s something that a lot of us in the western world struggle with because in many respects we’ve got it so good. We’ve got all our basic needs covered already, and because we have much less daily struggle to deal with it means we don’t feel like we have to rely on God as much on a daily basis. I know it really hit home for my wife and I when my wife had a massive blood clot in 2008, and it was a daily struggle for her just to stay alive. During those times I relied more on God than I had in years, and I felt closer to God than I ever had.
So I guess it’s a good reminder to us to be intentional about cultivating that relationship with God on a daily basis, despite the fact that we may not be going through as many struggles as others are.
What a heartwarming post (great reminders!), Peter!
I often wish people (Bible-believing or not) would put their heart not just where their mouth is – but where their pockets is.
When thinking of wealth, we often think about our needs, about scarcity, about our efforts, our own clever $-making ideas..
We often miss the ideas about true wealth, the wealth source & giver, about giving & sharing as part of wealth mechanics.
Thanks for sharing! :)