Many people in the world have associated Christianity with giving up riches and being poor for centuries. This common notion has historically come from the practices of several religious groups that formed in Medieval Christian Europe, such as the Franciscans. These religious sects vowed to live piously in monasteries and places away from the temptations of secular societies. They also bound themselves to a simple lifestyle by living poor and owning very little possessions.
While these groups either faded into history books or adapted their ways over the years, many American churches today continue the traditional Western perception of associating poverty with holy living. But as different views about money in Christianity have cropped up, more people are now pondering the big question: Does God want you to have money?
As one can easily see on the internet and in television media, the answers to this question are hotly debated. Some Christians have even accused other Christians as being sent from the devil over it! But while different ideas about Christians and money are constantly swirling, the Bible has had the answers the whole time. Let’s take a look at what the Bible says for itself about this controversial issue.
Is Money Evil?
Perhaps the most common idea that supports denouncing money is that ‘money is the root of all evil.’ This idea seems to stem from 1 Timothy Chapter 6, where the Apostle Paul teaches the young pastor Timothy about several things that include money. At first blush, it may appear that Paul’s letter associates money and rich people with evil, such as Verse 9 saying, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
Wise study of the context in the aforementioned chapter along with other Scriptures reveals a different picture, however. Verse 10 says in its entirety, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Thus according to Scripture, the love of money – or greed – is the root of all evil, and not the money itself. This one small detail makes a big difference in Scriptural truth. Having money doesn’t cause people to sin; people trusting in money more than God, who is the True Source of all things, is the real problem.
Seeing Money God’s Way
If money itself isn’t the “root of all evil,” what about rich people and the description in 1 Timothy 6:9? To answer that question, one must consider what the whole Bible says about rich people beyond 1 Timothy. Several places in the Bible tell of the struggles, temptations, and outright evil actions of the rich. Other accounts, however, tell of rich people who repented from their ways and believed, like Zacchaeus in Luke 19. Others still reveal stories of godly people who God blessed with many benefits that included material wealth because they believed and trusted in Him. Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Job were all rich people who were righteous and entrusted their massive wealth to God.
It is difficult to not find glaring discrepancies in the ‘poverty is holiness’ idea when it’s compared with the multitude of Biblical accounts of the faithful rich. Another Biblical truth that surprises people is that Jesus was not in poverty when He lived on earth. He owned a house (Matthew 4:13), He had followers who were rich (Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 8:3), He paid the required taxes (Matthew 17:24-27), and He had a treasurer who was in charge of His ministry funds (John 13:29). Even when Judas embezzled from the fund pool, Jesus had enough to continue His ministry to the end (John 12:4-6). Only when Christ died on the cross and took on the sins of the world did He truly become poor. And, through His death and resurrection, 2 Corinthians 8:9 describes that He defeated the spirit of poverty once and for all.
Many more Scriptures can be studied about God’s true view of being rich. Each one points to the big picture that God wants His people to be well cared for in all aspects of life that include finances and to bless others with it. This doesn’t mean that Christians should see God as a genie that grants ‘magic money’ wishes. But it does mean that by daring to believe God’s promises and listening to Him with wisdom, He will fulfill them every time.
~ Christian Patriot Daily
