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Last week we talked about how we can make more money, so let’s have a little conversation about Christians and money. This is a conversation I have all the time and rarely does it come to me in a question form but basically, “Is desiring wealth un-Christian? Can you desire wealth, build riches and abundance and still be a Christian?” Instead of a question, it usually comes through as a statement: You’re not a Christian because you want to make money… and they don’t actually tell me, they talk behind my back and say things that aren’t nice. Hey, I have feelings, too.
Let’s talk about why so many Christians believe that desiring wealth is un-Christian. Well, it is because there’s been a lot of un-Biblical teaching around it and people quote versus like, money is the root of all evil. Actually, the love of money is what the Bible says is the root of all evil. You shouldn’t love money. You should love God, but money’s not evil. The love of money is evil.
Then there is the idea that you cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon isn’t really money but that’s how a lot of people preach it. And there is a correlation, you cannot serve two Gods, but it doesn’t say that money is evil there. It doesn’t say that wealth is evil.
And a lot of people like to quote, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven.” The rich man didn’t get into heaven because of an issue with his pocket book or bank account. It is an issue of his heart. So get your heart lined up with God.
Should we be aware of the dangers or the temptations of wealth. Yes. You should. But you should not be scared and I am going to give you several reasons why in just a moment.
This is my firm conviction that it is time to have some Biblical teaching on wealth that sets us free from all that other stuff that’s been taught so that Christians can feel the freedom to create wealth and leverage wealth for God’s glory and the Kingdom. I’m going to use my life to leverage God’s glory, including my wealth. And I want you to be able to do the same thing. And there’s work to do in the kingdom and there’s not enough Christians resourced to be able to fund that work. So it is time to bring the wealth back into the kingdom so that we can do the work that God’s called us to do and make this world a better place and get people connected to the source, to the true source.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
The ability to produce wealth, God gave that to us, He declared it is I who give you the ability to produce. He gave you gifts. He gave you talents. He gave you desires and passions. And when you sow those into the world, it gives you the opportunity to produce what… don’t say, “Well, I was so good, so smart… my hands, my abilities…” NO, no,no. God put that ability on the inside of you, including the ability to create wealth.
And so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors as it is today.
Listen, when people see your life and they say, “Wow, there’s a wealthy person,” we have conditioned society and the Church to say, “they must be greedy and they’re just out for themselves.” And then they think… they must not love Jesus too much. But the Bible actually says the exact opposite. We should see people and say, “Whoa, that confirms that person is walking in the covenant of God.” Listen, not all wealthy people are doing that, but the more I get around wealthy people, the more I realize that there are God honoring, God fearing people leveraging their lives for His glory. These are the kind of believers that are walking in this covenant, the proof of that covenant.
Deuteronomy 28:12-13
The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will only be above and not beneath.
Think about it… a lender not a borrower, above and not beneath, the head and not the tail. And I speak this Word, these verses over my life everyday… Every. Day. And it was months before I realized that little word, above ONLY. There’s only one way when you’re walking into a covenant, the blessing of God. Now, listen, this comes when we FIRST HONOR GOD.
It’s the heart first, but there is fruit to the blessing and the covenant that we have with God and it is time for Christians to stop being scared of wealth. The point I am trying to tell you is…
It is a part of the covenant, proof of the covenant and the promise of our covenant…
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Zero argument there, seek first the Kingdom of God. If you’re trying to get wealthy and you’re not seeking the Kingdom of God first, that’s not what I’m talking about. Seek first the Kingdom of God… that means it’s not just Kingdom. It’s actually right licing and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you as well. If you go back above that verse, the context is, “Hey, what are you going to eat? What are you going to drink? What are you going to wear? Where are you going to live?” God will take care of all these things, if we seek first the Kingdom of God, His righteousness and all these things. God will take care of you. God is not scared of your wealth.
2nd Corinthians 9:8
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
We see above that our God will supply all that you need so that you will be able to do every good work. That is a principle of the Kingdom that He wants you to be resourced: to do the work that He’s called you to do. Christians, let’s not be scared of wealth. Let’s stop bad mouthing those that are getting wealthy.
I know I wrote about the scarcity mindset a few weeks ago and identifying as broke or poor. Being poor is not a sign of the covenant of the Kingdom of God.
You’re above and not below, you’re the head and not the tail; those are signs according to the Word of God. Now this is a heart thing I’m trying to shift thinking and believing and the mindset around finances and wealth. I am not saying, “If you’re not wealthy, you’re not saved.” No, oh my goodness, that is not what I am saying and don’t put words in my mouth. I’m not saying that we have to be, but good golly could we just get over the fact that we can’t be. Can we say what the Bible says about wealth rather than what we’ve been taught for generations that you can’t be wealthy?
I’m pretty sure I stepped on some toes today, which made some people uncomfortable. I suggest if you’re a Chrsitian, go back and read some of what the Bible says about wealth. If you want to have dialogue (civil) about this, I’m happy to… This took me years to get to a place where I could say the things that I’m saying to you with the confidence and the conviction, as a believer in Christ. I hope that you will begin the journey; maybe you’re new to the journey. I invite you to discover what the Bible says about whether or not what people have said.
Now this is where we jump off and go out there and give your greatness to the world because somebody needs what’s on the inside of you! I love you guys! Have a great day!!
