On the whole, Scripture does give the impression that God means for mankind to be prosperous. This implication is sufficiently strong that some preachers make it one of the central tenets of their teaching. My observation is that they may treat the topic in a naive, sometimes crass, manner. They may equate materialistic success as evidence of spiritual success which is to say that to be spiritual relates to wealth. Wealth, like health, is evaluated in the person’s human context.
Part of the story traces back as far as Abraham, who was blest of God with wealth. Perhaps before Abraham, there was Job who is described as having great wealth, and, after his storied ordeal, became even wealthier than he was before his trials. Patriarchs Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were men of wealth. David and Solomon were noted, among their other achievements, as persons gaining wealth. Promises of Scripture tend to advance the idea that when we are approved of God, we may generally expect improved circumstances. Such relief is not a certainty, as Job discovered.
If God affords wealth for some, as he apparently does, the wealthy are alerted not to take credit for shrewd and wise ways for achieving it. Isaiah affirms that it comes from God, if it is gained in the context of God’s blessing. This does not imply that there is only one way to gain wealth. We may gain wealth by our own sacrifices at the beginning of our life experience, in adopting certain strategies, and applying self in special ways related to business and management. We seek to understand what it is to gain wealth through the blessing of God contrasted to those who, believing only in their own prowess, gain it by their presumed skills and efforts, even deviations. This divides issues between wealth of common grace, from divine grace. God’s wealth is given for purposes of ministry – from those who have to assist those who have not. One’s spirituality is not measured by affluence. We utilize any gift that God gives, perhaps a gift for gaining wealth, and use it for the good of others. This is what justifies accumulations of any devout person. Wealth is a means for service. Wealth is a tool-of-life game, not to gain excess, but to do good for others.
God’s bestowment of wealth ought to be cause for humility. We may have a theory position. It is better to give than to receive, which implies that God has offered a blessing to the affluent person who is not troubled about where his next meal is coming from. It ought to humble the affluent. An evidence of God’s provision of wealth is the humility in which we hold that privilege. Wealthy persons appear different to the needy. We are told that one of a beggar’s greatest disappointments is found in his appearance. He not only is a beggar, but he looks like a beggar. He would rather be well dressed than to appear in pitiable circumstances. He often would rather be in appearance of having better straits than to have the meal that his body craves. God gives wealth for service. Wealth is simply more of what is presumed to be excess than one needs to flourish. It is out of being served that the poor may pause to discover why they have become a concern of the serving person. This may become the reason they discover God who cares for them through welfare. The motive for Christians is that they have been directed of God to serve in love – the reason for wealth they have. I have known numerous wealthy persons.
I admire many and deplore some. Most of those acquaintances would advance the idea that their first, most important, wealth is not in material things, but spiritual. They give considerable time using the excess of their material wealth to assist those troubled by lack – from whatever cause. If ideally carried through, the name of Christ appears and faith rises. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020