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What Is Money?
What Is Money?
People hold widely divergent views about
money. Some view it as the root of all evil and believe that poverty brings one closer
to God. Others accept the health-and-wealth gospel: that Christians are almost automatically
destined to become financially successful if not fabulously wealthy. Those who hold
either of these contradictory ideas think it comes directly from the Bible.
Is money good or evil? To lay a foundation for managing one's finances, we must begin
by considering what money is and whether it is proper for Christians to accumulate
wealth.
Wealth and the Bible
The first time the Bible mentions someone with a lot of money, it speaks of a righteous
man, Abraham, who "was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold"
(Genesis 13:2). Later we find God promising that through this man's descendants all
nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 18:18; 22:18; 26:4). Abraham was wealthy,
but he was also "the father of all those who believe" (Romans 4:11).
God is not opposed to riches. In fact, He is the originator of financial blessings
(1Samuel 2:7; Proverbs 10:22) and reminids us that personal diligence can also lead
to wealth (Proverbs 10:4).
When we have more money than we need for normal expenses, we are wise to save some
for later use. The Bible speaks well of the saver, noting that the ant wisely stores
up food for the winter (Proverbs 6:6-11). It speaks favorably of someone who would
provide for his children and grandchildren: "A good man leaves an inheritance
to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous"
(Proverbs 13:22).
Spiritual traps to avoid
These positive examples, however, do not give the whole picture. The follower of
God who wants to make money but continue to follow God must avoid certain spiritual
traps. It becomes easy, as a person accumulates worldly goods, to view money -- rather
than God -- as a source of protection and stability (Proverbs 18:11).
The apostle Paul talked about money and temptation: ". . . Those who
desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful
lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root
of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1Timothy 6:9-10).
It is from these words that some people get the idea that the Bible teaches that
money is the root of all evil. However, Paul wrote something considerably different:
that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Money itself
is not an evil, but elevating money and material wealth to a greater priority than
it is properly due is a great spiritual trap.
In this passage Paul elaborates on the perspective toward wealth that Jesus Christ
had given many years earlier. In speaking of a Christian's proper priorities (Matthew 6:24-33), Jesus said, "You cannot serve God and mammon" (verse 24). The
English mammon is translated here from a similar Aramaic word that means riches,
especially riches that turn one's attention away from God.
While recognizing that people have physical needs, Christ emphasized that our priority
must always be God. Jesus taught that we must "seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added . . ."
(verse 33).
Paul's comments to Timothy teach us not to make money a god or to allow it to come
between us and God. Money is simply a tool that can be used for either good or bad.
The key lies in our attitude. Paul adds this advice to the wealthy: "Command
those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain
riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay
hold on eternal life" (1Timothy 6:17-19, emphasis added throughout).
Can we seek wealth and eternal life?
On another occasion, a young man asked Jesus Christ what one must do to inherit eternal
life. After Jesus told him he must keep God's commandments, the man responded that
he had kept them from his youth (Mark 10:17-20). "Then Jesus, looking at him,
loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have
and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the
cross, and follow Me.' But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for
he had great possessions.
"Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for those
who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were astonished at
His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for
those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God'"
(verses 21-25). (See also "The Eye of a Needle," )
Notice the disciples' reaction when they heard Jesus' comments about how difficult
it was for a rich man to enter the kingdom:
". . . They were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, 'Who
then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible,
but not with God; for with God all things are possible'" (verses 26-27). Eternal
life is a gift given to those who humbly seek God (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10). Everyone, whether rich or poor, must rely on God's mercy for eternal life.
A lesson in priorities
Jesus explained that eternal life is a spiritual issue of paramount importance. The
wealth of the man was not intrinsically wrong. But his misplaced priorities -- his improper
attachment to material wealth -- was. Christ perceived that the man was more interested
in his money than God. Indeed, the young man was despondent over Christ's words "and
went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions" (Mark 10:22).
God has revealed in His Word, the Bible, all essential knowledge that humans need
to come into harmony with His ways in both spiritual and physical matters. God has
given His people specific instructions for supporting the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29;
15:1-2; 26:12-14). His Word even gives instructions for how His people should provide
financially for annual religious observances (Deuteronomy 12:17-18; 14:22-27).
Jesus took the lesson of spiritual and financial priorities a step further. "Then
Peter began to say to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You.' So Jesus answered
and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers
or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the
gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brothers
and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -- and in the age
to come, eternal life'" (verses 28-30). Here, Jesus promises physical and spiritual
rewards for putting Him first.
So He clearly is not against prosperity -- provided we don't make it the greatest priority
in our lives.
Keeping priorities straight can be quite a challenge for people who have been blessed
with material goods. The rich must not glory in their riches (Jeremiah 9:23). We
must remember Christ's instruction regarding our priorities: ". . .
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" (Matthew 6:20-21).
People are prejudiced
People can be prejudiced about money. Sometimes the wealthy despise the poor, and
sometimes the poor despise the rich. Jesus did not hold such biases. He ate with
tax collectors and sinners, was called their friend (Matthew 9:10; 11:19) and ministered
to the poor (Matthew 11:5).
Yet He showed no partiality and could also be found with the rich (Matthew 27:57;
Luke 19:1-10). A wealthy man so admired Jesus that he buried Him in his unused family
tomb (Matthew 27:57-60). Jesus Christ died for all of humanity, regardless of anyone's
social or financial standing.
The Scriptures we have just reviewed show that money is neutral -- neither good nor
bad. Our attitude toward it, however, is important. Money tests our allegiance; it
makes apparent whether we are committed to God or to our possessions. At best, money
is a tool we use for important purposes. In the next chapter we will see that Christ
taught that a Christian has financial obligations -- to God and his fellowman.
©1999 United Church of God, an International Associtaion
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