Christian's on Money

The Oxford English Dictionary provides the word "rich" with six definitions. Interestingly, only one of those refers to money, where it is defined as "having a lot of money or assets; wealthy."

Much of our world revolves around wealth of this nature. There is no circumstance, case, or moment that money and the pursuit of it are unaffected by. Money is not a bad thing and it can't be prevented either. Even the monks of medieval times, removed from society, used currency. A monastery won't develop itself after all.

Hebrews 11 calls us "strangers and strangers" on earth who pine for a kingdom in heaven. Part of being a new creation involves changing our minds, denying the world's gospel for the Gospel of Heaven, regarding the things we had previously embraced.

So if the agenda of people who don't follow Jesus is the pursuit of wealth, what does that mean for Christians? Will there be rich Christians?

First let's explain the first obstacle: "Can you be rich and Christian?" "The short response is "yes." It is not enough to quote the tale of the wealthy young emperor, where Jesus says, "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for someone who is rich to join God's kingdom." It is simpler for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for Someone to join God's kingdom. If we are rich or poor, it has cost the blood of the Son of God to carry you or me into the kingdom. Being a Christian and financially wealthy is theologically feasible.

But that's not our problem. Our question is Is a Christian supposed to be rich?" The preachers of wealth will tell us that financial blessing is confirmation that we are Christians-that Jesus loves us and wants us wealthy and happy. Eyebrows are raised by the martyrs of Hebrews 11, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

Timothy was urged by Paul to "command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor to place their hope in riches, which are so uncertain, but to place their hope in God, who richly gives us all things for our enjoyment." Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be kind and ready to share (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

Paul didn't tell the wealthy to avoid being rich (his belief was that there would be rich people in the church of Timothy), but he offers guidance about what it should look like to be a Christian with money. He orders (a powerful word of gentle encouragement and suggestion in our snowflake age) that they offer their wealth, share it, acknowledge its divine source, and refuse to allow it to be their "hope." Be a rich Christian, just don't be a stingy, rich Christian.

And yet, written in bright red letters, Jesus looks at the crowd and speaks simply, "Do not store treasures on earth for yourselves... No one can serve two masters." You will either hate one and love the other, or you will dedicate yourself to one and dislike the other. Both God and money, you can not serve.

The Do not..." is also pretty heavy. A great multitude of witnesses, monks and saints, nod to these terms in a frenzied manner. So should Christians be impoverished? Is it a rejection of wealth, a trapping of the world that the Christian has no business accumulating?

In terms of poverty reduction, Christians have always led the way. It's fundamental to Christianity to support the needy. But when you are poor, it is difficult to support the poor.

When we are able to keep two principles in stress, we start to reach maturity as humans. Do Christians have six figures in the accounts of their banks? Yes Yes. Will Christians sell everything they own and give everything to the poor? Yes Yes. Should Christians be the world's most charitable people? Yes Yes. Is it God's financial blessing? Yes Yes. Can Christians be totally happy that they have nothing? Yes... because in the end, we possess everything.