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THAT’S IN THE BIBLE Is it a sin to want to be rich?
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Is it evil to become rich? Should a person feel guilty that they are blessed with great wealth when they see others with minimal wealth or none at all? What does the Bible teach us about true riches?
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The Bible: the basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible.
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: I’m Bob Pellien, and welcome to the program, That’s in the Bible. It is quite common to desire a better life for oneself and especially for our family. Some are also convinced that if they were just more successful or able to acquire great riches it would solve all of their problems. But we know that there are a lot of problems in life that money can’t fix. We clearly therefore must put all of this into proper perspective, and to do so, as always, we turn to the holy scriptures because “That’s in the Bible”.
Dear friends, we’ve received this short email from Abigail, and she wrote:
Is it evil to want to be rich?
- Abegail P.
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So to help us fully respond to Abigail’s question, let’s further break it down and answer all these questions today:
- Is God against anyone becoming rich?
- Is it evil to desire riches?
- Why does God not make all His faithful servants rich?
- What is the danger to be aware of, if blessed with riches?
Dear friends, sometimes there are those that believe that God is opposed to anyone being wealthy. So, does becoming rich inherently involve becoming evil? Is there a connection between riches and evil?
We ask, is God against anyone becoming rich? We are sure that having wealth or even acquiring great riches in this life is not against the will of God. What is our basis for that stand? Of course, the answer lies in the Bible. In Bible history, for example, were there even servants of God in the past whom He blessed with great material wealth? Yes! Let’s read an example recorded in the very first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis 13:2 where it says:
Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:2 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So dear friends, Abram, later named Abraham by God, was just one example. Is there another example that we could see as, well, further Bible evidence that it was God Himself that had a direct hand in enriching His servant? Another example, we turn to the Bible, this time in 1 Kings 3:13 where it says:
And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
1 Kings 3:13 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Solomon had not asked for riches, yet God made him wealthy. So from this event in Bible history dear friends we can see that God is not opposed to anyone acquiring wealth or becoming rich. He in fact enriched His servant. Where though, would desiring riches become evil? Well, that could happen, Luke 12:20-21 answers this way:
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:20-21 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: The Bible does not teach that desiring to become wealthy is evil, no. However the Bible does teach that it would be foolish to pursue treasures or riches, but we were not rich toward God. So, then dear friends, If a person values worldly riches over spiritual riches then he would be viewed as foolish in the sight of God. That is when desiring riches becomes evil. How does money or wealth become evil? What does it make some do? Answer of the Holy Scriptures dear friends, Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy chapter six, first we’ll read verse nine:
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1 Timothy 6:9 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, money or wealth becomes evil only when in man’s desire to be rich, he falls into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts. Why is this detrimental? This is what drowns a person in destruction and self-ruin. How does the desire to be rich cause a person to fall, as it says here, into temptation and therefore self-ruin? We read verse nine, let’s just read the next verse 10, it says:
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: According to the Bible the love of money will lead a person to destruction because their desire, their love for money, their desire for wealth causes them to stray or depart from the faith. That kind of desire for wealth tempts a person to maybe commit fraud to earn more money, or to neglect responsibilities just to have a second job or pursue additional overtime hours with the intent to earn more and more money. That kind of desire for wealth will cause a person to drown in self-destruction.
Why does God not make all His faithful servants rich? He did it for Abraham, did it for Solomon as we read earlier. Why not for all of His servants? Let’s go to the answer of God which is recorded in Deuteronomy 8:11-14, I quote:
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Deuteronomy 8:11-14 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, what could potentially be an unfortunate outcome if a person’s possessions or wealth increases? The Bible warns that when a person becomes rich and their possessions multiply, his heart may be lifted up, so much so that he may forget the Lord God. If one’s becoming rich would only cause him to forget God, then it would be much better for him to remain poor and maintain his close relationship with God. But if you are blessed with riches, is there any danger to be aware of? Another danger one must be alert to, dear friends, recorded here in 1 Timothy six, let’s go ahead to verse 17-18, it says:
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
1 Timothy 6:17-18 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Yes dear friends there is another danger to be aware of concerning the obtaining of riches in this world. And those whom God has blessed with material wealth must guard themselves from becoming proud and putting their trust in what the Bible called their uncertain riches instead of putting their trust in God. That is very dangerous.
So, let’s review the questions that we began with and see what the Bible has revealed to us:
- Is God against anyone becoming rich?
Well we learned, no. We read from the Holy Bible how God, in fact, blessed Abraham with great wealth, and He rewarded Solomon also with great riches because God was so pleased with what He heard from Solomon in his prayer. Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people rather than riches. God gave him all the wisdom needed and included with it many riches thus showing God is not against wealth.
- Is it evil to desire riches?And we learned from the Bible that it teaches us that it would be foolish to pursue treasures or riches, and not be rich toward God. So if a person values worldly riches over, or above, spiritual riches then he would be viewed as foolish in the sight of God. That is when desiring riches becomes evil. Also taught is the danger that the desire for riches could lead a person into sinful temptations.
- Why does God not make all His faithful servants rich?Well the Bible warns that when a person becomes rich and their possessions multiply, his heart may be lifted up, so much so that he may forget the Lord God or think he doesn’t need God in his life.
- What is the danger to be aware of, if blessed with riches?Those whom God has blessed with material wealth must guard themselves against putting their trust in their riches instead of putting their trust in God. That would be so very, very dangerous.
It is very important then dear friends that we all develop the right attitude and understanding about material wealth. Such as, riches are not evil and earning a living is not bad, we must guard ourselves against falling into temptation and wandering off from our faith. In the pursuit of material prosperity we must never allow ourselves to be led off track on our quest for the Holy City on the upcoming Day of Judgment. Instead, let us anchor our hope completely upon God and be confident He will provide all of the blessings that we need in this life. So, dear friends, we invite all of you, all of you viewing our program today, join with us inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo and receive God’s abundant grace and the blessings needed to ensure we are brought safely into His kingdom.
We’d like you to continue learning about the teachings of the Bible taught here inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, to do so please visit online and browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel. And if you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us. I’m Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching. See you next time, right here on That’s in the Bible!
