Should Christians Accumulate Wealth?
Is it morally acceptable as a Christian to accumulate financial wealth? The Bible has over 2,000 verses on money, but perhaps the most often-quoted verse is this:
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
At the surface level, money is THE root of all evil. However, at Christian Financial Advisors Network, we like to go deeper in examining financial decisions through a faith lens.
There are four very important words at the beginning of the verse, namely “for the love of.” It IS problematic when money takes such a stronghold and weakens our relationship with God. It’s also harmful when we love money more than we love our neighbor.
The Pursuit of Wealth
As children, we are taught by parents to earn stellar grades and further our education. Formal schooling prepares us for paid employment as adults. Well-meaning parents often lead their children toward the careers that are perceived as stable and financially sound.
And yet, are we doing a disservice to our kids by trying to set them up for financial success? Have we conditioned them to pursue an occupation because of its earning potential rather than its unique alignment with that child’s God-given talents?
That child, when he finds himself in adulthood, may be overly concerned with the pursuit of wealth. He may unknowingly step into a financially lucrative role that requires exceptional amounts of time and energy. This, in turn, means less time for spiritual and familial relationships.
How does a person break free from the temptation of greed perpetuated by high earnings? Before answering this question, let’s first scrutinize the role of vocation in God’s divine plan.
The Importance of Vocation
Work has value and upholds the dignity of each person. However, when it becomes an obsession – to the point of burnout and exhaustion – it is unhealthy. It leads us further away from an intimate relationship with Jesus.
The Latin word voca means call. Each of us is called to bring others to Christ and participate in his redemptive work. As Romans 8:28 states, “All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
God created people to work, according to Theology of Work. It’s evident in Genesis that God himself was a worker, and he created humankind in his image. Exodus 20:9 is clear: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work.”
Nonetheless, work is not intended to dominate other aspects of life. Rest, leisure and worship are still equally important. We can make a contribution to society in numerous ways, and paid work is only one of them.
The Needs of Others
It is alright – even holy – to pursue work that leads to personal and professional fulfillment. But after a certain point, you may have enough earnings to cover living expenses of your immediate family. You may have enough savings to fund your children’s education and comfortably retire.
It is in this moment that you feel so abundantly blessed, and radical generosity seems to be the only solution for excess dollars. In fact, God calls each of us to sacrificial giving.
“A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.”
Global inequality statistics are startling. According to Credit Suisse Global Wealth report, the world’s richest 1% own 44% of the world’s wealth. In this context, the richest 1% have a financial net worth (assets less debts) of $1 million or more. Adults with a financial net worth exceeding $100,000 represent only 11% of the world’s population but hold nearly 83% of global wealth.
As a US citizen, I take luxuries for granted. There are parts of the world in extreme poverty that you and I will never see face-to-face, outside of planned mission trips. Places where any meal, let alone a warm meal, is hard to find. Towns where a house consists of straw, mud and a thatch roof but no running water.
Poverty also strikes domestically. Some adults must choose between paying for groceries or this month’s electricity bill. Children may be shuffled from foster home to foster home while a biological parent is incarcerated, deceased or otherwise unavailable.
The needs of the weak and vulnerable do not go away as we accumulate more wealth. Remember, God owns it all. We are called to be great stewards of the blessings He provides.
Should We Really Give It All Away?
Luke 12: 32-34 states,
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be.”
We cannot serve both God and money. Our deepest fear may not stem from losing material possessions. Rather, loss of autonomy may be the culprit.
Self-sufficiency is a dangerous place. It involves turning away from God and community to look inward (and only inward). It makes us think that we are solely responsible for financial success or failure. It propels us to work more hours, grow the business, or sign new clients. More, more, more.
We don’t literally need to sell every possession to have eternal life because that only comes through our faith in Christ. But we do need to break the cycle of yearning for “more” in the secular world when the only real necessity is a deep relationship with Jesus.
Remember…
Living richly means:
Taking all that is given to us and using it for good …
Improving the lives of those around us …
Helping the sick and those in despair …
Acting as strong role models …
Embodying love in every interaction …
Pouring our hearts out to others in life-giving ways …
It means uncovering your true purpose and stepping into your vocation.
Remember, you don’t need to go at it alone. Christian Financial Advisors Network members are fee-only, fiduciaries who specifically help Christians on their stewardship journeys. Learn about our advisors here.
