Wealth in the Light of the Bible

It is a fact that money, possessions and wealth are man's primary goal in this life. In my opinion, to some extend this is healthy as it secures a decent life for a person and his/her dependents. However, when the desire for wealth becomes an obsession, it could have negative effects on one's life. Let us see what the Bible tells us on this subject. "If I have put my trust in gold, or said to pure gold, 'You are my security', if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, (...) then this also would be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high." (Job 31: 24-25, 28) In the above verses we have one of a series of Job's rhetorical questions, as an oath of innocence before God. Job, who had been a very rich man, protests that he was not guilty of greed; he denies that he rejoiced over his great wealth or placed his security upon his fortune. He admits that greed is an iniquity to be judged, for it means that one has been unfaithful to God on high. Taking pride in one's wealth and placing one's trust in riches is a form of idolatry. It hardens one's heart and alienates a person from God, who is the only source of lasting joy and real security. Admittedly, it is difficult for man to have wealth and not put his/her hopes and confidence in it. That's why Jesus said that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, wealth per se is not evil since God himself wants us to have abundant life. It is man's attitude towards it that makes riches a blessing or a cursing for someone. "Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases, for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. (...) A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish." (Psa. 49: 16-17, 20) Don't be astounded seeing a man grow rich, says David. Unfortunately, in our culture people tend to idolize rich men and women, and even bow down before them. They consider the rich as superstars, never mind if they obtained their wealth by inheritance or even through dishonest means. Today, it is money that primarily measures a man's worth. TV, newspapers and magazines verify this every day. David reminds us that, when a person dies, he/she takes nothing into the grave. All his/her wealth will be left behind and others will spend it, usually unwisely, to their own detriment. Don't we all know this? Yet, we tend to forget it... But a wise rich person will never be a slave to his/her riches. On the contrary, money will be his/her servant - a tool for the benefit not just of one's own family but also of others less fortunate. "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." (Prov. 11: 4) When the day of "wrath" comes, i.e. the day of trial and temptation that comes to every person, then riches profit little. In such cases righteousness can deliver one from peril, says the proverb. The rich person's wealth cannot save one when, e.g., facing a so-called "incurable" disease. However, a righteous man stands more chances to be delivered from danger, through faith in God. "One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." (Prov. 11: 24) Wealth must change hands. It is like a seed. The more one scatters it, the more will increase. Being generous will make a man grow richer, but being stingy is likely to result in one's poverty. "He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family; but he who hates bribes will live." (Prov. 15: 27) Unjust gain, dishonest deals that bring quick money, secret bribes and other dark financial schemes, sooner or later, will bring trouble to one's family. We cannot feel at ease when we know that we have earned money through illegal or immoral means. Our conscience, even if we are trying to silence it, will constantly remind us of our corrupt deeds. Thus we will find it difficult to enjoy inner peace, even if our schemes were never uncovered. "Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death." (Prov. 10: 2) Once again, king Solomon reminds us that treasures gained through wicked methods do not benefit. Usually, such gains are followed by trouble. One way or another, their possessor will be harmed. Only righteousness and faith in God can deliver one from deadly dangers. "Wealth gotten by vanity dwindles away; but he who gathers by labor will increase it." (Prov. 13:11) Wealth obtained through all kinds of illegal schemes will be scattered. As easily and quickly as it has been gathered just as quickly it will waste away. On the contrary, those who gather little by little through honest labor will prosper. "Better the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked." (Psa. 37: 16) The righteous person can enjoy the little he/she has more than the wicked enjoy their abundance. A good person derives fulfillment mainly through his/her relationship with God and a clear conscience. But the rich and wicked people cannot gain true and lasting happiness from their material wealth alone. "Better a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice." (Prov. 16: 8) King Solomon repeats his father's axiom as quoted previously. It is better for people to have a small income earned with honest ways than to have great revenues earned by fraud and oppression of others. The former, if of course they are content with their earnings and are not grudgers or envious of the rich, will enjoy the little they have more than the latter, who cannot find peace in their heart. "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing, and does not give him his wages." (Jer. 22: 13) It appears that exploitation has been a rotten human "sport" from times immemorial. Jeremiah pronounces woes against such people who make their neighbors work for nothing. Such callous exploitation of people was contrary to the Law that Jehovah gave to Moses (Lev. 19:13, Deut. 24: 14). In personal deals with others, one should comply with the principles of economic fairness and justice, trying to promote such principles in society. Otherwise the woes of those who suffer injustice and exploitation by them will, sooner or later, have negative effects on the exploiters and their families. "Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool." (Jer. 17:11) Those who use unjust means to become wealthy may succeed to prosper for a time. But later, halfway through their life, the 'bills' for their injustice will be handed over to them and they will prove to be fools. The unwritten law of retribution is always at work and is not a respecter of persons. "A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare." (Prov. 21:6) The wealth of those who are lying in order to make a fortune, bearing false witness, signing fraudulent contracts etc., will be like smoke that rapidly vanishes away. Such wealth will be a deadly snare for them, undermining their peace of mind and their health. "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no sorrow to it." (Prov. 10: 22) Here is a very encouraging proverb. The blessing of the Lord will bring wealth to those who gather little by little through honest labor! The blessed person will enjoy his/her wealth without vexation of spirit, using it wisely, so that he/she may always be able to help others in need. "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone; (...)" (Prov. 23: 4-5a). King Solomon warns people against being exhausted by overwork while pursuing riches. Covetousness may result in toiling and tormenting oneself. One must have the wisdom to recognize one's limitations and show restraint. Besides, riches are very uncertain things. Sometimes they disappear at a glance. "Riches do not endure for ever, and a crown is not secure for all generations." (Prov. 27: 24) Neither riches nor glory are permanent. Even if one manages to hold them for life, one will leave them behind at the day of one's death. "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." (Prov. 30: 8b-9) We should be happy to earn our daily bread so that we may not dishonor God's name by resorting to stealing. At the same time we should not crave for riches, as they cause vanity and conceit, alienating one from God. Both extremes, i.e. poverty and abundance, are stumbling blocks for the spiritual growth of man, which should be one's priority in life. "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matt. 19: 24) It is extremely difficult for a rich person to enter the spiritual kingdom of God, which is within. The rich person's mind and heart are firmly set on one's riches, thus obstructing the truth and the light of God from reaching one's soul and fill one's heart with real joy and peace. "Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich man will not let him sleep." (Ecc. 5: 12) A laborer with a clear conscience, whether with full or half-full stomach, enjoys a sweet and peaceful sleep. On the contrary, the abundance of the rich will cause them to lose their sleep. Fear of thieves, blackmailers, kidnappers and the like, perhaps a guilty conscience, usually torture many rich people. "He who loves money will never be satisfied with money; nor he who loves wealth will ever be satisfied with his income. This too is vanity." (Ecc. 5: 10) According to Ecclesiastes, if we set our heart on money and possessions, we will never be satisfied, as we will never feel that we have enough. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6: 19-20) In the above account, Jesus exhorts his followers not to store up material wealth but to gather spiritual treasures instead. The latter are treasures that neither moth nor rust can consume, while thieves cannot touch them. "And he said to them, 'Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.' And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, "What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?" And he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God'." (Luke 12: 15-21) This is one of the most remarkable parables of Jesus. It implies that the greedy man hardly thinks of death! "For we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we cannot carry anything out of it. And if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many sorrows." (1 Tim.6: 7-10) Having food and clothing may not be enough for the average person of contemporary culture. However the craving for riches is a snare that diverts a person from faith in God and plunges one into destruction. The passion for money is indeed the root of every evil and entails many sorrows for man. "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. (...) You have hoarded wealth for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves as in the day of slaughter. (...)" (Jam. 5: 1-6) James is quite tough towards the rich, foretelling that misery is coming upon them. Apparently he believes that every rich person has amassed their wealth by injustice and exploitation of the poor! It is true, however, that the cries of the robbed laborers reach God's heart and the exploiters will be called to "pay" for their injustice, sooner or later. The Bible contains many more accounts on riches and wealth, but I think what I have quoted here is enough to give us a general idea about the possible implications of wealth on one's spiritual growth.