God’s word draws a very clear line between what is important in life versus what is insignificant.
The eternal is important and what we do in the short time we have on earth, the decisions we make and how we spend our time can affect not only our eternity but also the eternity of those lives we touch with God’s love and the gospel.
So what is wealth in the Bible?
19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-20
Wealth in the Bible
As Christians, we need to think of money, which is transient, as the means to a greater end. Financial wealth may be important in this life but in the face of eternity it remains insignificant.
So what should we consider wealth in the Bible context? I believe there are three things
- Time for God’s work
- Sufficient Resources to meet our needs and
- The Ability to Give Generously
1. Time
Time’s value is immeasurable. Time to devote to God’s work, spend with the people we love and to share the good news of the gospel with others.
Wealth in the Bible means having enough time to do the things that are important – both to God and to us.
I remember a wealthy gentleman in our church. I did not know him and his wife very well as it was a fairly large church. They were a good few years older than my wife and I and moved in different social circles. Truth be told, he probably wouldn’t even remember me now. However, I remember him as he was deeply involved in our church and able to touch many lives. This was mainly because he had so much time available.
Having earned a good living and invested wisely, this man had retired early to spend time with his family. He remained actively involved in the church and gave huge amounts of his time to serve in any way he could
I recall one year when he, as a parent and guardian, accompanied his daughter and a group of her school peers on a mission trip to Egypt. The school had planned the mission trip and needed parents who could volunteer to accompany the team to assist as guardians on the trip.
What a privilege to be able to spend that time with his teenage daughter, working together in ministry, training a future generation to share God’s love with others. He was able to do this because he had been a good steward with what God had entrusted him. And he had the wisdom to spend that time wisely, building up treasure in heaven, so to speak.
THIS REQUIRES – Passive Income Sources
As long as we live in this world, we need food shelter and clothing. We need to provide for those who depend on us. This can include our children, elderly parents or relatives who are unable to care for themselves.
This costs money… and the only ways to acquire that money are to:
- Spend our time & effort to earn it or
- Acquire assets that earn it for us
If you don’t want to spend all your time earning money, you need to find ways to generate passive income through assets that earn money for you.
These could include rental income from additional properties, dividends from shares in a company, royalties or revenue from an online business that takes little or none of your time.
Can you build this overnight? Of course not. I’m not suggesting that we all quit our jobs and bet everything on red. It takes time and consistency. As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago; the second-best time is today.
2. Sufficient Resources
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33
God’s word acknowledges our need for food, clothing and shelter. He tells us not to worry about these things but to seek first his kingdom.
Wealth in the Bible means having enough resources to meet our needs; our Daily Bread, so to speak.
As long as we have enough resources to pay for our food, clothing and shelter, we have sufficient resources.
So how much is enough? That is something I can’t tell you. Each of us needs to decide this for ourselves.
THIS REQUIRES – Godliness with Contentment
Basic requirements include Food, clothing and shelter.
Truth be told, many hard-working people have far more than those basic requirements today. New cars, new furniture, new appliances and electronics, even regular dinners out at restaurants. These are all things that have become basic necessities in our lives.
A 2012 survey showed that, among other things, the following items are considered a ‘Basic Necessity’ in the United Kingdom:
- Washing Machine
- Celebrations
- Phone
- Hobby
- Home decorated
- Television
Anyone who can’t afford any one of these is deemed to be below the poverty line. Now I’m not suggesting we should all make do without these things. I am suggesting that Godliness with contentment involves a level of sacrifice. So does wealth-building. So Joe Public believes that a television is a basic necessity? Fine. But why buy a $5,000 TV when a $200 one will do? Just saying.
Godliness with contentment allows us to reach our goals sooner. The less content we are, the longer it will take to acquire sufficient resources which, in turn, frees up our time to do the things that are important to us.
And without Godliness with contentment, we may never achieve those goals.
3. Ability to Give
God’s word urges us to give to his kingdom and to the poor & needy. That means generosity towards God and towards those around us.
Wealth in the Bible means having the ability to give generously both to God’s kingdom and those less fortunate than ourselves.
Giving is one of the great joys in this world. It is important to note that God doesn’t care how much we give, but rather that we give of what we have. No matter how much or how little.
God neither needs nor cares about our money. He cares about our hearts – and nothing reveals a heart’s true state as clearly as its attitude toward money.
Again, God doesn’t need this litmus test to see our heart’s state. He already knows our darkest secrets. The test is for us to see and understand our own state.
The ability to give generously is both a joy and a responsibility.
THIS REQUIRES – A Generous Heart and Disposable Income
With generous hearts and resources to share, we are in a position to give as the Bible commands us.
The ability to give generously means having sufficient income to meet our basic necessities and then some. The more money we have over and above what we require to meet our basic needs, the more we have to share.
Of course, all the money in the world means nothing if we don’t have generous hearts. As we build our wealth let us never forget what we are building it for.
The wealth we create belongs to God. He entrusts us with this wealth and, as good stewards, we should never betray that trust. We should use our wealth to give generously to God’s kingdom and the needy. We should also focus on reinvesting and managing that wealth in such a way that it continues to serve God’s purposes long after we leave this earth to be with him for all eternity.
This is wealth in the Bible in its truest sense.