Do you realize that treasure in and of itself is morally neutral? Consider this for a moment, a person spends $2,000 a week to support his cocaine habit. Is this finances righteous or evil? I submit to you that the purpose that this finances is used is destructive. Now, let's say the same person gets saved and spends that $2,000 to support missionary work in Africa. I would say that this wealth is being used for guiltless. When we really look at money, it is a tool. It is often referred to as an instrument. A scalpel in the hand of a heart surgeon is a good use of that tool or instrument. However, that same scalpel in the hand of a murderer is an bad use of that tool.
Thus, whether wealth is virtuous or bad is dependent upon who holds it or controls it, and their motive for doing so. There is definitely a dark side to money, which is called greed.
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:10
Greed (or the LOVE of money) is what happens when money controls the person rather than the person controlling the treasure. money is my servant not my master. Making financial assets your master is a form of idolatry. By using substance to do God's work instead of letting treasure use you, you are giving the proper direction to the power of money.
If, as Christians, we relinquish control of finances to evildoers, then, we are assured that the world will continue to get darker. On the other hand, if we shake off the strong cultural norm that Christians should not be wealthy, we can change the overall nature of our society and reach more people for Christ.
Obviously, we must ALWAYS examine our motives. James 4 states,
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
It's OK to have gold, as long as gold doesn't have you. Jesus came to give us life more abundantly (John 10:10) and, believe it or not, that includes wealth. Our prosperity is our witness that we are different from the world and a sign that God does bless His covenant children in ALL ways.
Are you experiencing all that God has for you? If you are looking for studies of the bible, then, drop by and let us give into your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment