Rich or Poor?

What does God say about money in scripture?

First of all, many believe that rich people are evil and the poor people are holy. For many, a wealthy believer is an oxymoron. But is that true or is it a myth? What does the Bible say about money?

1. God makes the rich and the poor
1 Samuel 2:7 “The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.”

Proverbs 22:2 “The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all.”

In the Bible, we come across many examples of godly people who are rich and godly people who are poor and many in between those categories.

2. Everything belongs to God, including “our money”
Psalm 50:10-12 “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”

One truth believers have a hard time grasping is that all that we are and all that we have belongs to God. We are often quick to attribute what we have and what we accomplish to ourselves, calling it “mine” or “ours,” but the Bible teaches that everything belongs to God. He is the Giver of all good things (James 1:17, Eccl. 5:19, Deut. 10:14).

3. We are entrusted managers/stewards.
God entrusted His followers with many resources including finances, and He commands us to manage them wisely. See Matthew 25:24-30 Parable of the Talents.

Someone once prayed, “Lord you have tested me in poverty, please test me in riches!”

4. Do not love money
Psalm 62:10 “...if riches increase, set not your heart on them.”

1 Tim. 6:9-10 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For 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.”

While God may choose to entrust more riches to us, we must not set our hearts on money, love it, and trust in them.

5. Do not covet
The 10th commandment in Exodus 20:17 says not to covet which means to not desire, wish, long for, or crave something that others have. In our social media age, we are often exposed to what others have which we might not. Those who often showcase their lifestyle, possessions, vacations, and other such things cause others to covet without realizing it themselves. Posting what you have, where you vacation, where you live, the car you drive, and others such things may cause people to covet, be jealous, or envious of you. A question to ask yourself before posting on social media is: why am I posting what I am posting on social media? Does this post bring glory to God or self?

Thought to consider:
In Hebrews 11, we read about heroes of faith who lived by faith, trusting God in various circumstances. Verse 24-26 about Moses caught my attention. It says, “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”

Moses, while having the ability and access to great wealth, riches, prestige, luxuries, and comforts, he chose to rather be mistreated with the people of God. Why? Who in their right mind would do that today? It says that he considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.

Following this in chapter 12 of Hebrew we have the ultimate example of Jesus, “... who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross… (v. 2)”

Are we desiring to increase our comforts, wealth, possessions, to live for the fleeting pleasures of this world or are we choosing to suffer, to sacrifice, to serve God’s people? Are we commanded to sell everything and give to the church as some believers did in the book of Acts? No, but could we? If God were to ask us to give up whatever it is that we treasure, would we be willing to or are our hearts too attached to those treasures? We don’t have to have much to be attached to it.

Want to know where your heart is and what you truly value above all? What are you not willing to give up? If a devastating storm were to hit your house along with the financial crisis in our country and destroy everything you have, what would break your heart the most? Would you be devastated about the loss or possessions or will you be able to say with Job, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

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"When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:21-26