Board index ‹ Money

[Fred the Credible]

I contend that most Christians withhold more of their wealth for personal comforts than the Bible instructs.

Proverbs 3:9-10: "Honor the Lord with your wealth then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine".

Mark 12:41-44: "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on'.

So, Jesus (and Proverbs) surely are saying that REALLY bountiful giving is wise and in keeping with God's wishes. I was thinking of this when visiting a pretty passionate pastor and noticed that his house was super large, super nice, and that he had all kinds of valuable collections and expensive hobbies. If Christians really believe that there is an afterlife of eternal paradise after a brief time in this world, why withhold so much for personal pleasure? The appearance is that many are "hedging their bets" in case they are mistaken about the afterlife so that they can be very comfortable here on earth and not have any regrets. And so, I am contending for debate that most Christians don't give in a way that matches what is taught in the Bible.

[jimwalton]

I generally agree with you, but also with the caveat that Christians are, generally speaking, generous people. Fairly reliable (and consistent over the years) statistics say that Christians generally tithe (give to God's work) about 2.5% of their income. That's far shy of the 10% rule of thumb (though many debate whether this rule applies to Christians). God never requires Christians to give their assets away in quantities that place them into poverty, however. He requires us to be generous to a fault (Mt. 5.42; 2 Cor. 9.7), and many Christians are. Could we be giving away more? Definitely.

It's interesting that the Proverbs verse you quoted says that as you give your assets away, God will enrich you with more assets.

The Bible asks three main questions about money:

1. How did you get it? (legally and justly, or exploitatively?)

2. What are you doing with it? (Indulging in luxuries or helping the needy?)

3. What is it doing to you?

Therefore we can arrive at some principles:

1. Acquiring modest wealth is good, and there should be plenty of opportunities for living sufficiently. God never promises prosperity.

2. We should share God's deep concern for the poor and demonstrate help for the poor in many tangible ways.

3. Money and possessions can easily seduce people to sin. While money and possessions are not inherently evil, they can be strongly corrupting.

4. A key to guarding against the temptations of wealth is to be a generous giver.

5. Good management of one's money, assets, and resources is a gauge of the genuineness of one's faith.

Too many people say that money doesn't make us happy, but then they live as if money is the very thing that gives life meaning. Christians could always be giving away more, and should be, but don't overlook their generosity, either.

[J Lord]

> God never requires Christians to give their assets away in quantities that place them into poverty

Didn't Jesus ask this of some people?

[jimwalton]

Jesus asked this of one man only—the rich young man in Mt. 19.16-22 (parallels in Mk. 10.17-31 and Lk. 18.18-23), you're right. But it's not prescriptive for anyone else. Christians can choose to sell their possessions, but it's not commanded of us.

[J Lord]

He tells one person that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. He also tells one person that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. The fact he is telling something to one person doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't apply generally.

[jimwalton]

It is true, generally speaking, that it's more difficult for rich people than normal or poor people to enter the kingdom of God. It is also true that we are all to love God with all. What is not a general teaching is to sell everything you have and give it to the poor. That it's more difficult for rich people is expressed in several other places, so we know it has general application. That we are to love God with all is stated in many locations, so we know it's a universal truth. To sell everything is only stated once, in this one place, so we know it doesn't apply generally.

[J Lord]

The way Jesus described it, it sounds virtually impossible for a rich person to enter heaven.

[jimwalton]

It's interesting that you say that. The disciples had exactly the same reaction: "When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, 'Who then can be saved?' " (Mt. 19.25 and Synoptic parallels).

Notice that Jesus didn't say it was impossible for a rich man (and neither did you), but only difficult. Money tends to make one feel independent, enslaving one to one's possessions and assets. Money also tends to make a person selfish. All of these things are contrary to life as a disciple.

The disciples' question, though, generalizes the issue—it's broader than the immediate discussion. They presumed that riches were signs of God's blessing, so if these guys aren't in God's favor, who is?

They are showing a fundamental misunderstanding of salvation. It seems like they assumed good circumstances (wealth) was a sign of God’s blessing, and that being good (worthy of wealth) was what was required for entrance to heaven. Jesus sidelines that whole theology, and knocks them right off balance.

It is absolutely impossible to attain the Kingdom of God through human achievement. Man cannot save himself or anyone else. Only God can save. No power to save or to deliver is given to man, nor is it possible for man to attain such a power. Such power is grounded in the omnipotence of God alone and must proceed from this. There is nothing about salvation that is possible for us. We can’t earn, deserve it, get it by devotion, by birth, or from upbringing. There is no part of salvation within reach of our capability. All notions of salvation must be discarded for the one true way: God provides it.

So let's get back to your immediate question: Is it virtually impossible for a rich person to enter heaven? I can name some very rich people from the Bible who were believers: Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Joseph of Arimathea, to name a few. So we know it's not completely impossible. But it is impossible to love both God and money (Lk. 16.13), and we know that money is a source of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6.10). So it's definitely far more difficult. Money has a siren call on people, and it's generally at odds with spiritual disciplines.

[J Lord]

You said, "It is absolutely impossible to attain the Kingdom of God through human achievement." Do you think a person needs to believe that God exists in order to be saved?

[jimwalton]

Yes. Hebrews 11.6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Believing in and being convinced of God's existence is the first element of faith. The very existence of God is a matter of intelligent faith. Romans 1.19-20 confirm the same thought.