The Perils And Pleasures of Money

Money can be a blessing and it can be a curse, depending on how you use it, so to help you in using your money wisely, read what the Bible says about money.

Danger of Riches

The Bible is well documented about the risks of having money. It’s not that having money is wrong, but when the money begins to have you, then that’s a problem. The Apostle Paul wrote about loving money too much, writing that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim 6:10). Money is not evil. It is the love of money that is at the root of the problem. One of the clear and present dangers of having a lot of money is that “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity” (Eccl 5:10). Jesus warned us to “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:5). We are to simply seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and He will take care of everything else (Matt 6:33).

Money and God

Money can compete with God because it provides for all of our needs, it gives us many different pleasures, and its security for tomorrow and the next day, but the author of Hebrews warns us to “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5). If you are worried about finances, then you must feel forsaken by God, because if you’re not content with what you have, then you’re not free “from the love of money.” The love of money can make us wander “away from the faith” if we’re not careful, because “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matt 6:24). Ask yourself, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it” (1 Cor 4:7)? Obviously all that we have received is from God.

Giving to God

If you think about helping the poor, think about this; “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed” (Prov 19:17). Maybe you’ve never thought of it that way, but that’s the way God looks at it. He is a defender of the poor, the orphans, and the widows (Psalm 68:5), so “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Eccl 11:1). It’s the law of sowing and reaping. Generally, we reap more than we sow, but we usually reap long after we sow, but the fact is, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (Prov 11:24-25). Malachi the Prophet challenged the children of Jacob to “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Mal 3:10).

Message to the Rich

The Bible has a lot to say to the poor and disenfranchised, but it also has a lot to say to the rich. For example, they should know that “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (Prov 13:11). Sadly, in this world, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender” (Prov 22:7), so God would say to you who are rich: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:19-21). I don’t believe this is only for the rich, because “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor 9:6). That applies to all of us. The harvest is up to the amount you sow. If you’re ever tempted to think you’ve acquired your wealth all by yourself, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deut 8:18). Paul’s last message to the rich was to “charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Tim 6:17-19).  By the way, the poor can be as covetous as the rich toward money.

Conclusion

Solomon wrote, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous” (Prov 13:22), so there’s nothing wrong with saving money and spending it wisely. It’s fine to splurge once in a while. God wants us to enjoy our blessings, but when our blessings start to capture our hearts, we must get back to the Bible and realize that “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” (1 Tim 5:8).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is a writer at Christian Quotes and also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.